Sandra Hüller (a Best Actress nominee) and Christian Friedel, stars of Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest — nominated for Best Picture, Best International Picture, Director, Sound, and Adapted Screenplay — are familiar with Shakespeare’s famous verse from Hamlet: ”All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players …” That’s because both thespians have been playing the Danish prince on stages around Germany for years.
Due to Germany’s repertory system in city and state theaters, an actor can revisit an assortment of plays time after time over a number of years.
Friedel tells me that he first played the Dane in 2012. It’s a sort of rock star Hamlet performed with his band, Woods of Birnam. “It can take years until the piece is really finished,” he explains.
He adds that “It changes as you’re getting older,” an experience he feels with movies as well.
Due to Germany’s repertory system in city and state theaters, an actor can revisit an assortment of plays time after time over a number of years.
Friedel tells me that he first played the Dane in 2012. It’s a sort of rock star Hamlet performed with his band, Woods of Birnam. “It can take years until the piece is really finished,” he explains.
He adds that “It changes as you’re getting older,” an experience he feels with movies as well.
- 3/9/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
The pioneering French-Iranian producer and sales agent leaves behind a long-lasting legacy
Pioneering producer and celebrated Celluloid Dreams founder Hengameh Panahi died on November 5 following a long illness, sending shockwaves of sadness throughout the international film community and leaving a long-lasting legacy of both championing auteur cinema and shaking up the status quo in her wake.
The revered French-Iranian industry executive was known for finding and following emerging directors and accompanying their films to festival glory and international acclaim. Her career spanned four decades and more than 800 films.
She worked alongside iconic directors from across the globe including Jacques Audiard,...
Pioneering producer and celebrated Celluloid Dreams founder Hengameh Panahi died on November 5 following a long illness, sending shockwaves of sadness throughout the international film community and leaving a long-lasting legacy of both championing auteur cinema and shaking up the status quo in her wake.
The revered French-Iranian industry executive was known for finding and following emerging directors and accompanying their films to festival glory and international acclaim. Her career spanned four decades and more than 800 films.
She worked alongside iconic directors from across the globe including Jacques Audiard,...
- 11/10/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
A few days after AFM wrapped in Santa Monica, the dearth of substantial deals trickling in is pointing to a weakened film sales market which is grappling with structural changes and the reverberations of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Global industry players came into the AFM with reasonable hopes of dealmaking after a quiet Toronto festival, even if many packages were held back due to the strike. Yet, the main talking point of this AFM came down to the dysfunctional logistics of the event which was held for the first time at the Meridien Delfina hotel instead of the beachfront Loews.
“The logistics of AFM were more noisy than the actual market of AFM,” admits Scott Shooman, who was named head of film earlier this year at AMC Networks, a portfolio that encompasses IFC Films, Rlje Films and the streaming service Shudder.
Dylan Leiner, the senior EVP of acquisitions and production at Sony Pictures Classics,...
Global industry players came into the AFM with reasonable hopes of dealmaking after a quiet Toronto festival, even if many packages were held back due to the strike. Yet, the main talking point of this AFM came down to the dysfunctional logistics of the event which was held for the first time at the Meridien Delfina hotel instead of the beachfront Loews.
“The logistics of AFM were more noisy than the actual market of AFM,” admits Scott Shooman, who was named head of film earlier this year at AMC Networks, a portfolio that encompasses IFC Films, Rlje Films and the streaming service Shudder.
Dylan Leiner, the senior EVP of acquisitions and production at Sony Pictures Classics,...
- 11/8/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, sales agents and distributors are convening in Santa Monica this week in the hopes of reconnecting with buyers and kicking off deal discussions at the American Film Market.
After an underwhelming Toronto Film Festival, which saw little deal activity, there’s hope that a few of the starry packages being shopped at AFM will get picked up. But given the climate in Hollywood, many projects won’t officially hit the market until February at the European Film Market in Berlin. The marketplace is not only strained by the strike but the shifting appetites and belt-tightening at the major studios and streamers. At the same time, the return of buyers from China to AFM after several years away is seen as a positive sign.
“Given the strikes and the tough global climate, many of the top international sales agents and talent agencies are holding back...
After an underwhelming Toronto Film Festival, which saw little deal activity, there’s hope that a few of the starry packages being shopped at AFM will get picked up. But given the climate in Hollywood, many projects won’t officially hit the market until February at the European Film Market in Berlin. The marketplace is not only strained by the strike but the shifting appetites and belt-tightening at the major studios and streamers. At the same time, the return of buyers from China to AFM after several years away is seen as a positive sign.
“Given the strikes and the tough global climate, many of the top international sales agents and talent agencies are holding back...
- 10/31/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The trailer for Ayenda, the upcoming documentary short from MSNBC Films and Time Studios about the Under-18 Afghan National Women’s Football Team, has been released a day before its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Saturday, June 10.
The film — from director Marie Margolius, who produced alongside Connor Schell, and with a list of exec producers that includes Trevor Noah and Rashida Jones — tells the true story of how members of the team carried out a daring escape from their homeland in 2021 after Kabul’s fall to the Taliban. In the trailer, the women listen to the phone call they received telling them that they needed to leave Afghanistan immediately, giving them instructions on what to do.
Ayenda is set to air on MSNBC and Peacock this summer, as well as get a theatrical qualifying run for the 96th Academy Awards.
See the trailer below
Ayenda is just one...
The film — from director Marie Margolius, who produced alongside Connor Schell, and with a list of exec producers that includes Trevor Noah and Rashida Jones — tells the true story of how members of the team carried out a daring escape from their homeland in 2021 after Kabul’s fall to the Taliban. In the trailer, the women listen to the phone call they received telling them that they needed to leave Afghanistan immediately, giving them instructions on what to do.
Ayenda is set to air on MSNBC and Peacock this summer, as well as get a theatrical qualifying run for the 96th Academy Awards.
See the trailer below
Ayenda is just one...
- 6/9/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Aside from screening movies, film executives attending Tribeca will be playing ball on June 10 as part of of the 12th edition of the Nyfest, the New York-set fundraising soccer tournament.
Co-founded by Dylan Leiner, Sony Pictures Classics’ senior executive VP of acquisitions and production, Nyfest brings together people from the entertainment world on the playing field to raise money for organizations helping underserved youth in New York. The annual event will take place at Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park and will coincide with the first Saturday of Tribeca festival.
In addition to the adult tournament, Nyfest will also host a Youth Soccer Challenge which will welcome young talents. Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.
Past participants include teams from Droga5, ESPN, Facebook, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, MTV, NBCUniversal, Paradigm Talent Agency, Sony Pictures Classics, Time, the Tribeca Festival, Warner Bros. and YouTube, among others.
“We’re proud...
Co-founded by Dylan Leiner, Sony Pictures Classics’ senior executive VP of acquisitions and production, Nyfest brings together people from the entertainment world on the playing field to raise money for organizations helping underserved youth in New York. The annual event will take place at Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park and will coincide with the first Saturday of Tribeca festival.
In addition to the adult tournament, Nyfest will also host a Youth Soccer Challenge which will welcome young talents. Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.
Past participants include teams from Droga5, ESPN, Facebook, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, MTV, NBCUniversal, Paradigm Talent Agency, Sony Pictures Classics, Time, the Tribeca Festival, Warner Bros. and YouTube, among others.
“We’re proud...
- 5/25/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A version of this story about the Cannes market first appeared in Cannes issue of TheWrap magazine.
Saying last year’s Cannes was a return to normal might have been a misnomer. Sure, Covid was manageable and people were able to gather in person without the mandatory testing of previous years, but the transition from almost two years of isolation back to travel was a slow one. “Even though last year was a pretty robust market, there were still the remnants of Covid and certain territories not traveling,” said Dylan Leiner, Sony Pictures Classics’ EVP of acquisitions and production.
For many traveling to France in May, this year’s festival may finally be the return to normal that people are hoping for. “This may be one of the largest, most attended markets we’ve ever seen for Cannes,” said Jason Buckley, EVP of worldwide sales and distribution for Village Roadshow Entertainment Group,...
Saying last year’s Cannes was a return to normal might have been a misnomer. Sure, Covid was manageable and people were able to gather in person without the mandatory testing of previous years, but the transition from almost two years of isolation back to travel was a slow one. “Even though last year was a pretty robust market, there were still the remnants of Covid and certain territories not traveling,” said Dylan Leiner, Sony Pictures Classics’ EVP of acquisitions and production.
For many traveling to France in May, this year’s festival may finally be the return to normal that people are hoping for. “This may be one of the largest, most attended markets we’ve ever seen for Cannes,” said Jason Buckley, EVP of worldwide sales and distribution for Village Roadshow Entertainment Group,...
- 5/16/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
The European Film Market kicking off this week in Berlin could mark a return to a familiar, old-fashioned balance of power between buyers and sellers. And as the impact of the pandemic retreats, there is cautious optimism that activity levels may now be more sustainable and fairer.
Certainly, leading film sales companies and local distributors have over the past week once again been engaging in a long-established pre-market routine. The former sent out a volley of scripts for new film projects, while the latter fielded the incoming pitches, attempted to read them quickly at home or on airplanes, and positioned themselves to take on-site meetings.
“All the usual suspects have two or three projects. FilmNation’s got a couple, Rocket Science, AGC, WME, Cornerstone, my company. So, there’s a very healthy number and range of projects. Quite a variety,” says David Garrett, CEO of Mister Smith Entertainment. And prospects for dealmaking look good.
Certainly, leading film sales companies and local distributors have over the past week once again been engaging in a long-established pre-market routine. The former sent out a volley of scripts for new film projects, while the latter fielded the incoming pitches, attempted to read them quickly at home or on airplanes, and positioned themselves to take on-site meetings.
“All the usual suspects have two or three projects. FilmNation’s got a couple, Rocket Science, AGC, WME, Cornerstone, my company. So, there’s a very healthy number and range of projects. Quite a variety,” says David Garrett, CEO of Mister Smith Entertainment. And prospects for dealmaking look good.
- 2/15/2023
- by Patrick Frater and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Gotham Marcie Bloom Fellowship in Film has unveiled the names of filmmakers who will participate in the upcoming 14th edition.
The selected fellows are Ahnmin Lee, Anndi Liggett, Jingjing Tian, Joecar Hanna and Maryam Mir. All five New York-based filmmakers will take part in a year-long mentorship. As part of the program, participants will meet regularly with industry guests and leaders of the fellowship.
Created in 2009, the Fellowship has played a key role in helping promising new filmmakers connect with their peers within the community and develop their feature debuts. Alumni include Sarna Lapine, who directed Jake Gyllenhaal in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George” on Broadway, Silka Luisa, creator of the Apple TV+ series “Shining Girls” starring Elizabeth Moss, Wagner Moura and Jamie Bell.
Most recently, Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic was awarded Cannes’ Camera d’Or for best first film with “Murina” (pictured...
The selected fellows are Ahnmin Lee, Anndi Liggett, Jingjing Tian, Joecar Hanna and Maryam Mir. All five New York-based filmmakers will take part in a year-long mentorship. As part of the program, participants will meet regularly with industry guests and leaders of the fellowship.
Created in 2009, the Fellowship has played a key role in helping promising new filmmakers connect with their peers within the community and develop their feature debuts. Alumni include Sarna Lapine, who directed Jake Gyllenhaal in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George” on Broadway, Silka Luisa, creator of the Apple TV+ series “Shining Girls” starring Elizabeth Moss, Wagner Moura and Jamie Bell.
Most recently, Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic was awarded Cannes’ Camera d’Or for best first film with “Murina” (pictured...
- 12/16/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The Sundance Institute has unveiled the producers and the projects selected for this summer’s Producers Lab and Producers Summit. Taking place July 25-28 and July 29-31, respectively, the events are being held in person at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort. The Producers Lab will feature six fiction films’ and five nonfiction films’ producers and their projects while the summit will host 40 industry insiders and 26 indie filmmakers.
Advisors for the feature film program include David Hinojosa (Zola, Bodies Bodies Bodies), Amy Lo (Nancy, Sugar), Riva Marker (The Guilty, Relic), Josh Penn (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and Jason Michael Berman (Nine Days, Uncorked) while the documentary film program features Daffodil Altan (PBS’ Frontline), Violet Feng (Hidden Letters, Tigre Gente), Andrea Meditch (Ernie & Joe, Fathom), Bob Moore (Midwives, Softie) and Amanda Spain (MSNBC Films).
Industry participants in this year’s summit include Maria Altamirano...
The Sundance Institute has unveiled the producers and the projects selected for this summer’s Producers Lab and Producers Summit. Taking place July 25-28 and July 29-31, respectively, the events are being held in person at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort. The Producers Lab will feature six fiction films’ and five nonfiction films’ producers and their projects while the summit will host 40 industry insiders and 26 indie filmmakers.
Advisors for the feature film program include David Hinojosa (Zola, Bodies Bodies Bodies), Amy Lo (Nancy, Sugar), Riva Marker (The Guilty, Relic), Josh Penn (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and Jason Michael Berman (Nine Days, Uncorked) while the documentary film program features Daffodil Altan (PBS’ Frontline), Violet Feng (Hidden Letters, Tigre Gente), Andrea Meditch (Ernie & Joe, Fathom), Bob Moore (Midwives, Softie) and Amanda Spain (MSNBC Films).
Industry participants in this year’s summit include Maria Altamirano...
- 7/25/2022
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sundance Institute, the nonprofit organization that puts on the yearly film festival in Park City, has announced the entrants for its Producers Lab and Producers Summit.
Both events, the former taking place from July 25 to 28 and the latter from July 29 to 31, will be held in person at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort. The Institute picked six fiction film and five non-fiction film producers and their projects. Producers Lab and Producers Summit, which counts more than 40 industry leaders and 26 independent filmmakers among its participants, supports up-and-coming producers through year-round mentorship, granting, educational resources, strategic introductions, and networking opportunities with the industry.
“It has been three years since we have been able to gather in person, and over this time, the landscape for independent storytelling has shifted dramatically. It’s never been more critical to work to create a sustainable future for independent producers, a key priority for the Lab and Summit,...
Both events, the former taking place from July 25 to 28 and the latter from July 29 to 31, will be held in person at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort. The Institute picked six fiction film and five non-fiction film producers and their projects. Producers Lab and Producers Summit, which counts more than 40 industry leaders and 26 independent filmmakers among its participants, supports up-and-coming producers through year-round mentorship, granting, educational resources, strategic introductions, and networking opportunities with the industry.
“It has been three years since we have been able to gather in person, and over this time, the landscape for independent storytelling has shifted dramatically. It’s never been more critical to work to create a sustainable future for independent producers, a key priority for the Lab and Summit,...
- 7/25/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Events to run this month in Utah,
Sundance Institute has unveiled participants for its Producers Lab taking place July 25–28 and Producers Summit running July 29–31. Both events take place in person at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort.
The six fiction film producers and their projects under the auspices of the Producers Lab are: The Rotting Of Casey Culpepper; The President’s Cake; Starfuckers; Sales Per Hour; and Huella.
The five documentary film producers and projects are: Untitled Dwarfism Project; Untitled Sura Mallouh Project; Untitled Baltimore Project; Bartolo; and Queendom.
Producers and projects participating in the Producers Summit include: Jade Jackson with...
Sundance Institute has unveiled participants for its Producers Lab taking place July 25–28 and Producers Summit running July 29–31. Both events take place in person at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort.
The six fiction film producers and their projects under the auspices of the Producers Lab are: The Rotting Of Casey Culpepper; The President’s Cake; Starfuckers; Sales Per Hour; and Huella.
The five documentary film producers and projects are: Untitled Dwarfism Project; Untitled Sura Mallouh Project; Untitled Baltimore Project; Bartolo; and Queendom.
Producers and projects participating in the Producers Summit include: Jade Jackson with...
- 7/25/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Sundance Institute has named the participants for its 2022 Producers Lab and Summit, both of which are set to take place in person this year at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort.
The Fellows and projects selected for the Lab’s Feature Film Program are Apoorva Guru Charan (The Rotting Of Casey Culpepper), Leah Chen Baker (The President’s Cake), Eli Raskin (Starfuckers), Chloe Sabin (Sales Per Hour), and the duo of Helena Sardinha and Doménica Castro (Huella). Those set for the Lab’s Documentary Film Program are Lindsey Dryden (Untitled Dwarfism Project), Yoni Golijov (Untitled Sura Mallouh Project), Dawne Langford (Untitled Baltimore Project), Neyda Martinez (Bartolo) and Igor Myakotin (Queendom).
Jade Jackson (Losa), Lauren Lopez de Victoria (Forward), Fox Maxy (Water Tight), Albert Tholen and Aiko Masubuchi (Earthquake), and Séverine Tibi (Birthday) will participate in the Producers Summit on the Fiction Features side, with Nonfiction Feature participants to include Jude Chehab...
The Fellows and projects selected for the Lab’s Feature Film Program are Apoorva Guru Charan (The Rotting Of Casey Culpepper), Leah Chen Baker (The President’s Cake), Eli Raskin (Starfuckers), Chloe Sabin (Sales Per Hour), and the duo of Helena Sardinha and Doménica Castro (Huella). Those set for the Lab’s Documentary Film Program are Lindsey Dryden (Untitled Dwarfism Project), Yoni Golijov (Untitled Sura Mallouh Project), Dawne Langford (Untitled Baltimore Project), Neyda Martinez (Bartolo) and Igor Myakotin (Queendom).
Jade Jackson (Losa), Lauren Lopez de Victoria (Forward), Fox Maxy (Water Tight), Albert Tholen and Aiko Masubuchi (Earthquake), and Séverine Tibi (Birthday) will participate in the Producers Summit on the Fiction Features side, with Nonfiction Feature participants to include Jude Chehab...
- 7/25/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A testament to her fearless nature and boundless determination, Croatian-American filmmaker Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović was nine months pregnant when she traveled from New York to present her feature debut “Murina” at the Cannes Film Festival.
At the end of the festival, Kusijanović tool a 12-hour road trip with her husband to her homeland in Croatia, where she gave birth to her first child Petrus, right before scooping Cannes’ Golden Camera award with “Murina,” a double feast which earned her newborn son a lifetime festival accreditation.
Eight months later, she sat with Variety to tell us how her life has changed since winning the coveted award and looked back at her journey getting there. Vibrant, bright, restless and forceful like her first feature “Murina,” Kusijanović hasn’t wasted any time. She’s already well advanced on her sophomore outing, a daring English-language film which she co-wrote with Yinuo Wang (“90 Days”) and will shoot in Mexico.
At the end of the festival, Kusijanović tool a 12-hour road trip with her husband to her homeland in Croatia, where she gave birth to her first child Petrus, right before scooping Cannes’ Golden Camera award with “Murina,” a double feast which earned her newborn son a lifetime festival accreditation.
Eight months later, she sat with Variety to tell us how her life has changed since winning the coveted award and looked back at her journey getting there. Vibrant, bright, restless and forceful like her first feature “Murina,” Kusijanović hasn’t wasted any time. She’s already well advanced on her sophomore outing, a daring English-language film which she co-wrote with Yinuo Wang (“90 Days”) and will shoot in Mexico.
- 3/16/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Gotham Marcie Bloom Fellowship in Film has unveiled the names of the four filmmakers who have been selected to participate in this year’s edition.
Selected fellows for the 13th edition of the program are Lin Que Ayoung, an award-winning writer, director and producer who started her career as a hip-hop performer and lyricist; Pepi Ginsberg, a filmmaker and musician who’s penned, directed and produced several shorts including “Miss America”; Bianca Di Marco, whose latest short “Threads of Desire” was awarded a Graduate King & Wasserman award; and Lucia Robinson, who is working with The Vespucci Group which has Ramin Bahrani’s documentary “2nd Chance” screening at Sundance next week.
Founded in 2009, the Bloom Fellowship aims to provide support and guidance for unique voices in the independent film community. The initiative allows New York-based emerging filmmakers to benefit from a year-long mentorship and have the opportunity to meet and discuss with industry figures,...
Selected fellows for the 13th edition of the program are Lin Que Ayoung, an award-winning writer, director and producer who started her career as a hip-hop performer and lyricist; Pepi Ginsberg, a filmmaker and musician who’s penned, directed and produced several shorts including “Miss America”; Bianca Di Marco, whose latest short “Threads of Desire” was awarded a Graduate King & Wasserman award; and Lucia Robinson, who is working with The Vespucci Group which has Ramin Bahrani’s documentary “2nd Chance” screening at Sundance next week.
Founded in 2009, the Bloom Fellowship aims to provide support and guidance for unique voices in the independent film community. The initiative allows New York-based emerging filmmakers to benefit from a year-long mentorship and have the opportunity to meet and discuss with industry figures,...
- 1/14/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Jewish Story Partners, the non-profit film fund that launched six months ago, announced its second round of grant recipients on Monday. The winners came after an open submissions call that saw a 226% increase in participation from the first round.
An additional $280,000 has been awarded this year, bringing Jsp’s 2021 spend to $500,000 as they identify nonfiction work telling diverse Jewish stories. International filmmakers and fiction projects will be sought in the future. The group anticipates to hand out $800,000 in 2022 and $1 million by 2023.
New funders include the Lynn and Jules Kroll Fund for Jewish Documentary Films, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Kronhill Pletka Foundation and Koret Foundation.
Monday’s grants will fund noted documentary filmmakers including: Kate Amend, Marilyn Ness, Pratibha Parmar, Dan Sturman and Ondi Timoner.
“Jewish documentary films are a window into the richness and complexity of the arc of Jewish history and Jewish lives today,” said Lynn and...
An additional $280,000 has been awarded this year, bringing Jsp’s 2021 spend to $500,000 as they identify nonfiction work telling diverse Jewish stories. International filmmakers and fiction projects will be sought in the future. The group anticipates to hand out $800,000 in 2022 and $1 million by 2023.
New funders include the Lynn and Jules Kroll Fund for Jewish Documentary Films, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Kronhill Pletka Foundation and Koret Foundation.
Monday’s grants will fund noted documentary filmmakers including: Kate Amend, Marilyn Ness, Pratibha Parmar, Dan Sturman and Ondi Timoner.
“Jewish documentary films are a window into the richness and complexity of the arc of Jewish history and Jewish lives today,” said Lynn and...
- 11/22/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Sean Penn’s “Flag Day,” Leos Carax’s “Annette,” starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, and Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” with Frances McDormand and Timothée Chalamet, will provide star power at a 2021 Cannes Festival packed to overflowing with established and very often new European and world cinema arthouse talent.
The festival films will also drive much of Cannes’ business. Cannes’ business behemoth, a pre-sales market unveiling big indie projects — such as this year’s $60 million Vin Diesel vehicle “Muscle” — took place June 21-25 at the virtual Pre-Cannes Screenings.
“In some ways, Cannes this year has the opportunity to be the purest form of itself,” said Dylan Leiner at Sony Pictures Classics.
“Since the market was held virtually a couple of weeks before, festivalgoers will be able to focus on the programmed films almost exclusively without the distraction of a physical market, which so often favors splashy, large scale packages that grab headlines,...
The festival films will also drive much of Cannes’ business. Cannes’ business behemoth, a pre-sales market unveiling big indie projects — such as this year’s $60 million Vin Diesel vehicle “Muscle” — took place June 21-25 at the virtual Pre-Cannes Screenings.
“In some ways, Cannes this year has the opportunity to be the purest form of itself,” said Dylan Leiner at Sony Pictures Classics.
“Since the market was held virtually a couple of weeks before, festivalgoers will be able to focus on the programmed films almost exclusively without the distraction of a physical market, which so often favors splashy, large scale packages that grab headlines,...
- 7/6/2021
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
After Sundance, which saw sustained dealmaking activity on select titles, the film industry is gearing up for the virtual European Film Market, incorporating industry and press screenings of Berlin Film Festival’s program. With little sense of when the theatrical business can restart across the world, anxiety in the independent sector is edging up, added to the growing competition from streaming giants.
The EFM, the world’s second-biggest film market, is a place where sales agents traditionally launch movies with strong theatrical appeal, and this year they will need to double up on their marketing efforts to trigger the interest of distributors who are either cash-strapped or overburdened with postponed releases.
“We’re in a ruthless world with new variants,” says Memento’s Emilie Georges. “The more we advance the thicker is the fog. The challenge is to deploy enough efforts to make films exist within the small window of...
The EFM, the world’s second-biggest film market, is a place where sales agents traditionally launch movies with strong theatrical appeal, and this year they will need to double up on their marketing efforts to trigger the interest of distributors who are either cash-strapped or overburdened with postponed releases.
“We’re in a ruthless world with new variants,” says Memento’s Emilie Georges. “The more we advance the thicker is the fog. The challenge is to deploy enough efforts to make films exist within the small window of...
- 2/24/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy and Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The 10th edition of U.S. In Progress Wroclaw, the industry wing of the American Film Festival in Poland which was held online this year, wrapped over the weekend and presented a variety of awards to the participating American film projects.
The awards range from post-production services to travel bursaries and cash. A $10,000 cash prize to be put towards post-production in Poland was awarded to the film To The Moon from director Scott Friend and producers Cate Smierciak, Everett Hendler, Stephanie Randall, and Gabe Wilson. The full list of awards is below.
In addition to the U.S. projects, a group of U.S. experts including Sony Pictures Classics’ Dylan Leiner and CAA execs Maren Olson and Kat Moncrief took part in pitching and one-on-one sessions with Polish projects seeking U.S. partners. The non-competitive event is designed to foster potential co-productions and was hosted by Deadline.
In the wider festival,...
The awards range from post-production services to travel bursaries and cash. A $10,000 cash prize to be put towards post-production in Poland was awarded to the film To The Moon from director Scott Friend and producers Cate Smierciak, Everett Hendler, Stephanie Randall, and Gabe Wilson. The full list of awards is below.
In addition to the U.S. projects, a group of U.S. experts including Sony Pictures Classics’ Dylan Leiner and CAA execs Maren Olson and Kat Moncrief took part in pitching and one-on-one sessions with Polish projects seeking U.S. partners. The non-competitive event is designed to foster potential co-productions and was hosted by Deadline.
In the wider festival,...
- 11/16/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Cannes Marché du Film, along with a sales initiative led by Hollywood agencies, is hosting the first major virtual market since the start of pandemic, starting on June 23. Distributors and sales agents are looking forward to it: the turn-up for the online Cannes Marché du Film is significant with more than 7,000 accredited participants as of mid-June.
“As nobody can leave their house, a virtual market is the next best thing. It’s a valid and worthwhile effort … people need something to initiate interactions. If this virtual market can help in some way to stimulate business that’s a great thing,” says Dylan Leiner at Sony Pictures Classics.
Here’s a look at some key titles for sale:
“Balestra”
Director: Nicole Dorsey
Producers: Pierre Even
A disgraced competitive fencer (Tessa Thompson) is aiming for her Olympic comeback. She receives a prototype device allowing her to extend her training into her...
“As nobody can leave their house, a virtual market is the next best thing. It’s a valid and worthwhile effort … people need something to initiate interactions. If this virtual market can help in some way to stimulate business that’s a great thing,” says Dylan Leiner at Sony Pictures Classics.
Here’s a look at some key titles for sale:
“Balestra”
Director: Nicole Dorsey
Producers: Pierre Even
A disgraced competitive fencer (Tessa Thompson) is aiming for her Olympic comeback. She receives a prototype device allowing her to extend her training into her...
- 6/23/2020
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
As the world slowly recovers from the coronavirus crisis and theaters start reopening, sales agents and distributors, whose business traditionally drives the independent film sector, are facing an uncertain future while trying to make the best of this year’s abbreviated festival circuit. The Cannes Marché du Film, along with a sales initiative led by Hollywood agencies, will be hosting the first major virtual market since the start of pandemic, starting on June 22. Distributors and sales agents are looking forward to it: the turn-up for the online Cannes Marché du Film is significant with more than 7,000 accredited participants as of June 9.
“As nobody can leave their house, a virtual market is the next best thing. It’s a valid and worthwhile effort … people need something to initiate interactions. If this virtual market can help in some way to stimulate business that’s a great thing,” says Dylan Leiner at Sony Pictures Classics,...
“As nobody can leave their house, a virtual market is the next best thing. It’s a valid and worthwhile effort … people need something to initiate interactions. If this virtual market can help in some way to stimulate business that’s a great thing,” says Dylan Leiner at Sony Pictures Classics,...
- 6/17/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Bloom/Spiegel Film Exchange, an alliance between New York’s Ifp Marcie Bloom Fellowship in Film and the Jerusalem-based Sam Spiegel Film School and lab, has selected the nine filmmakers who will take part in its fourth edition.
The cross-cultural program will welcome Israeli filmmakers including Aalam-Warque Davidian, Margarita Belaklav, Tamar
Kay, Tal Miller, and Noa Shaham from the Sam Spiegel lab. They will be joined by Adrian Cardenas, Ben Gottlieb, Haley Anderson and Katrina Vogl from the New York-based Marcie Bloom Fellowship.
During a four-day seminar, the participants will meet with producers, directors, foreign sales agents, festival directors, programmers, poster designers, restorers and visit unique theaters and companies around the city. These meetings are meant to help them develop relationships with the film industry and encourage future collaborations.
“we started the Marcie Bloom Fellowship with the intention of bringing together a dynamic community of thoughtful, kind hearted and extremely curious filmmakers,...
The cross-cultural program will welcome Israeli filmmakers including Aalam-Warque Davidian, Margarita Belaklav, Tamar
Kay, Tal Miller, and Noa Shaham from the Sam Spiegel lab. They will be joined by Adrian Cardenas, Ben Gottlieb, Haley Anderson and Katrina Vogl from the New York-based Marcie Bloom Fellowship.
During a four-day seminar, the participants will meet with producers, directors, foreign sales agents, festival directors, programmers, poster designers, restorers and visit unique theaters and companies around the city. These meetings are meant to help them develop relationships with the film industry and encourage future collaborations.
“we started the Marcie Bloom Fellowship with the intention of bringing together a dynamic community of thoughtful, kind hearted and extremely curious filmmakers,...
- 3/13/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
After its usual slow start, Berlin’s European Film Market came to closely resemble the state of the underlying film industry: unsettled, angry and uneasily attempting to adjust to major change.
Where the film festival has new leaders in artistic director Carlo Chatrian and managing director Mariette Rissenbeek, following changes of leadership at Panorama and Forum, the Efm similarly wrestled with new screening rooms and venues. But the new team’s inaugural competition lineup has so far yielded few standouts. Certainly nothing that has sent buyers rushing for their check books.
“During this market there’s less specific conversation about films and more talk about the changes in the infrastructure of the industry and big company news. People are trying to get a 30,000-foot perspective, as opposed to being in the trenches on the films,” said Dylan Leiner, executive VP of acquisitions and productions at Sony Pictures Classics.
Much dialogue...
Where the film festival has new leaders in artistic director Carlo Chatrian and managing director Mariette Rissenbeek, following changes of leadership at Panorama and Forum, the Efm similarly wrestled with new screening rooms and venues. But the new team’s inaugural competition lineup has so far yielded few standouts. Certainly nothing that has sent buyers rushing for their check books.
“During this market there’s less specific conversation about films and more talk about the changes in the infrastructure of the industry and big company news. People are trying to get a 30,000-foot perspective, as opposed to being in the trenches on the films,” said Dylan Leiner, executive VP of acquisitions and productions at Sony Pictures Classics.
Much dialogue...
- 2/25/2020
- by Patrick Frater and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Dylan Leiner, executive vice president, acquisitions and production at Sony Pictures Classics, has called on filmmakers and distributors to work more closely together, following decades when middle-men had sought to keep them apart, and challenged filmmakers to be more entrepreneurial.
Leiner, speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival about sustainability in the movie biz, said that over his 25 years at Spc he had witnessed a disconnect develop after independent and international cinema moved from a mostly repertory theatrical model to a more mainstream one.
“During that transition, we saw all the agencies, most entertainment law firms and a lot of the production companies get organized in a way to keep filmmakers and distributors apart,” he said.
Leiner harked back to a previous era when “there was always this kind of camaraderie among the filmmaking community and the industry infrastructure.”
The consequence of the separation between filmmakers and distributors is a...
Leiner, speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival about sustainability in the movie biz, said that over his 25 years at Spc he had witnessed a disconnect develop after independent and international cinema moved from a mostly repertory theatrical model to a more mainstream one.
“During that transition, we saw all the agencies, most entertainment law firms and a lot of the production companies get organized in a way to keep filmmakers and distributors apart,” he said.
Leiner harked back to a previous era when “there was always this kind of camaraderie among the filmmaking community and the industry infrastructure.”
The consequence of the separation between filmmakers and distributors is a...
- 7/7/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Director Benedikt Erlingsson: "The industry should reduce its amount of air travel while films had to be made with greater green production credentials." Photo: Richard Mowe
Film Festivals need to wake up their ideas on carbon footprints and greenhouse emissions - and they will have to change their ways to become more sustainable.
So said Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson when he joined other speakers including Helga Trugel, member of the European Parliament; Linda Beath, an Italy-based industry observer; and Dylan Leiner from Sony Pictures.
Erlingsson, whose third feature, Woman At War, screened in Cannes three years ago, used colourful language to hammer home his points. “Festivals send scouts all over the world farting carbon. They invite guests - again carbon farting.” And there are all the associated paraphernalia such as taxis and meals.
Chair Michael Gubbin (left) and Sony’s Dylan Leiner at the talks session at Karlovy Vary...
Film Festivals need to wake up their ideas on carbon footprints and greenhouse emissions - and they will have to change their ways to become more sustainable.
So said Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson when he joined other speakers including Helga Trugel, member of the European Parliament; Linda Beath, an Italy-based industry observer; and Dylan Leiner from Sony Pictures.
Erlingsson, whose third feature, Woman At War, screened in Cannes three years ago, used colourful language to hammer home his points. “Festivals send scouts all over the world farting carbon. They invite guests - again carbon farting.” And there are all the associated paraphernalia such as taxis and meals.
Chair Michael Gubbin (left) and Sony’s Dylan Leiner at the talks session at Karlovy Vary...
- 7/1/2019
- by Richard Mowe
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Director said film festivals ”are part of the problem”.
Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson launched a passionate tirade against the wastefulness of the film industry, in a talk focused on sustainability at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) on June 30 (Sunday).
In a 10-minute speech Erlingsson described film festivals, including the one at which he was speaking, as “a carbon-farting crisis”.
“They send scouts all over the world farting carbon. They invite foreign guests, farting carbon. They eat meat, take taxis, turn up the air conditioning. Are film festivals part of our problem? Yes. Will they be able to continue this way?...
Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson launched a passionate tirade against the wastefulness of the film industry, in a talk focused on sustainability at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) on June 30 (Sunday).
In a 10-minute speech Erlingsson described film festivals, including the one at which he was speaking, as “a carbon-farting crisis”.
“They send scouts all over the world farting carbon. They invite foreign guests, farting carbon. They eat meat, take taxis, turn up the air conditioning. Are film festivals part of our problem? Yes. Will they be able to continue this way?...
- 7/1/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
No one expected Slamdance to see its 25th anniversary — least of all founders Dan Mirvish, Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn, Peter Baxter, and Paul Rachman. All were filmmakers rejected by the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, and their concerns initially ran to the short term: how to screen their films in and around Park City, the center of the indie-filmmaking universe.
They began by showing their work at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and migrated to spaces around Park City, where they handed out flyers and cajoled makeshift venues. They took turns running the projectors.
The next year, they came back to Park City — this time, setting up headquarters at the Treasure Mountain Inn, on top of Main Street. Screenings were still chaotic, but the ethos was in place: a festival programmed by filmmakers, for first-time filmmakers who had shoestring budgets and unique visions but no distribution… and, the benefit...
They began by showing their work at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and migrated to spaces around Park City, where they handed out flyers and cajoled makeshift venues. They took turns running the projectors.
The next year, they came back to Park City — this time, setting up headquarters at the Treasure Mountain Inn, on top of Main Street. Screenings were still chaotic, but the ethos was in place: a festival programmed by filmmakers, for first-time filmmakers who had shoestring budgets and unique visions but no distribution… and, the benefit...
- 1/24/2019
- by Charles Lyons
- Indiewire
Six emerging directors will be mentored at new event.
Warsaw-based sales outfit New Europe is launching a new talent initiative in a bid to help emerging filmmakers make the next steps in their careers.
New Europe Warsaw Sessions (24-27 September) will be a closed event where six directors, picked by New Europe, will meet established decision-makers in a series of workshops and will also receive individual mentoring.
Participants at the inaugural edition are: Jan P. Matuszyński, Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Paweł Maślona, Laura Moss, Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson and Jeppe Ronde.
The six will be mentored by Mike Goodridge and Julia Godzinskaya.
Also...
Warsaw-based sales outfit New Europe is launching a new talent initiative in a bid to help emerging filmmakers make the next steps in their careers.
New Europe Warsaw Sessions (24-27 September) will be a closed event where six directors, picked by New Europe, will meet established decision-makers in a series of workshops and will also receive individual mentoring.
Participants at the inaugural edition are: Jan P. Matuszyński, Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Paweł Maślona, Laura Moss, Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson and Jeppe Ronde.
The six will be mentored by Mike Goodridge and Julia Godzinskaya.
Also...
- 9/18/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
The Bloom/Spiegel Partnership, an alliance between New York’s Ifp Marcie Bloom Fellowship in Film and Jerusalem’s prestigious Sam Spiegel Film School, has selected 8 filmmakers from around the world who will participate in the program’s second edition.
This year’s participants, Alik Barsoumian, Daliso Leslie, Clare Sackler, Ostin Fam (selected by Bloom), and Dana Blankstein-Cohen, Avishay Kahana, Maya Fischer and Sol Goodman (selected by Sam Spiegel), will spend time with other directors, industry professionals, and attend screenings and events over a period of five days. Tribeca Film Festival provided passes to all participants of the Bloom/Spiegel Partnership.
“We started this program last year as a bit of an experiment and the experience was so inspiring that we have entered into a second year of the partnership. Through this program we seek to expand our community, build international friendships and enrich the next generation of filmmakers,” said Dylan Leiner and Alex Uhlmann,...
This year’s participants, Alik Barsoumian, Daliso Leslie, Clare Sackler, Ostin Fam (selected by Bloom), and Dana Blankstein-Cohen, Avishay Kahana, Maya Fischer and Sol Goodman (selected by Sam Spiegel), will spend time with other directors, industry professionals, and attend screenings and events over a period of five days. Tribeca Film Festival provided passes to all participants of the Bloom/Spiegel Partnership.
“We started this program last year as a bit of an experiment and the experience was so inspiring that we have entered into a second year of the partnership. Through this program we seek to expand our community, build international friendships and enrich the next generation of filmmakers,” said Dylan Leiner and Alex Uhlmann,...
- 4/24/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Alessandro Nivola on finding Géza Röhrig for To Dust: "Dylan Leiner who is one of the guys who runs Sony Pictures Classics. He knew Géza because they released Son of Saul." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Alessandro Nivola stars with Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams in Sebastián Lelio's Disobedience and he is a co-producer with Emily Mortimer, Ron Perlman, Josh Crook, and Scott Lochmus of Shawn Snyder's To Dust with the dynamic excavating duo of Matthew Broderick and Géza Röhrig, two highlights of the Tribeca Film Festival.
If you expect Géza Röhrig to stay in the register of desperate, detached compulsion that he perfected in László Nemes's 2016 Oscar winner Son Of Saul, you're in for a surprise. To Dust strikes a most unusual chord. What does it mean to mourn? Rituals put in place to aid the process of coming to terms with a death may also throw the...
Alessandro Nivola stars with Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams in Sebastián Lelio's Disobedience and he is a co-producer with Emily Mortimer, Ron Perlman, Josh Crook, and Scott Lochmus of Shawn Snyder's To Dust with the dynamic excavating duo of Matthew Broderick and Géza Röhrig, two highlights of the Tribeca Film Festival.
If you expect Géza Röhrig to stay in the register of desperate, detached compulsion that he perfected in László Nemes's 2016 Oscar winner Son Of Saul, you're in for a surprise. To Dust strikes a most unusual chord. What does it mean to mourn? Rituals put in place to aid the process of coming to terms with a death may also throw the...
- 4/23/2018
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Wise Hassan, Asia take top prizes.
The winners from the 12th edition of Jerusalem Pitch Point have been unveiled at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
The initiative’s top prize, dubbed the Van Leer Award and worth $5,500 (20,000 Nis), went to Palestinian filmmaker Tawfik Abu Wael’s Wise Hassan.
A Tel Aviv-set thriller, the film marks the director’s third feature after Thirst (Atash), which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in 2004, and Last Days In Jerusalem.
It is being produced by Baher Agbariya at Haifa-based Majdal Films, who presented the project alongside Abu Wael at the Jerusalem Pitch Point event on Sunday (July 16).
The Db & Opus Award, which comes with post-production services in the value of $15,000 (55,000 Nis), was presented to Ruthy Pribar’s Asia.
The project was presented by Yoav Roeh and Aurit Zamir of Tel-Aviv based Gum Films. It is currently completing financing ahead of production. The story will follow a 35-year-old mother who must face the death...
The winners from the 12th edition of Jerusalem Pitch Point have been unveiled at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
The initiative’s top prize, dubbed the Van Leer Award and worth $5,500 (20,000 Nis), went to Palestinian filmmaker Tawfik Abu Wael’s Wise Hassan.
A Tel Aviv-set thriller, the film marks the director’s third feature after Thirst (Atash), which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in 2004, and Last Days In Jerusalem.
It is being produced by Baher Agbariya at Haifa-based Majdal Films, who presented the project alongside Abu Wael at the Jerusalem Pitch Point event on Sunday (July 16).
The Db & Opus Award, which comes with post-production services in the value of $15,000 (55,000 Nis), was presented to Ruthy Pribar’s Asia.
The project was presented by Yoav Roeh and Aurit Zamir of Tel-Aviv based Gum Films. It is currently completing financing ahead of production. The story will follow a 35-year-old mother who must face the death...
- 7/17/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
The event will provide a platform for festival professionals to discuss key topics; delegates from Berlin, Sundance, Venice and Karlovy Vary expected to attend.
The Jerusalem Film Festival is launching a new industry initiative for its 2017 edition.
‘Think Fest’ will invite film festival professionals from around the world to participate in an event dedicated to providing a platform for discussion about the burning issues affecting the film festival business.
International festival directors, programmers and organisers will gather in Jerusalem for a three-day programme at the beginning of the festival, which will run July 13-23 this year.
Speaking to Screen, festival directors Noa Regev and Elad Samorzik said they believed there was a gap in the market for an event specifically focused on film festival workers.
They reported strong early feedback to the idea from festival professionals they had contacted, including representatives of Berlin, Sundance, Venice, Karlovy Vary, Sarajevo, Tribeca, Rotterdam, Istanbul and Sydney...
The Jerusalem Film Festival is launching a new industry initiative for its 2017 edition.
‘Think Fest’ will invite film festival professionals from around the world to participate in an event dedicated to providing a platform for discussion about the burning issues affecting the film festival business.
International festival directors, programmers and organisers will gather in Jerusalem for a three-day programme at the beginning of the festival, which will run July 13-23 this year.
Speaking to Screen, festival directors Noa Regev and Elad Samorzik said they believed there was a gap in the market for an event specifically focused on film festival workers.
They reported strong early feedback to the idea from festival professionals they had contacted, including representatives of Berlin, Sundance, Venice, Karlovy Vary, Sarajevo, Tribeca, Rotterdam, Istanbul and Sydney...
- 2/12/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
While the Sundance Film Festival 2017 doesn’t quite have the auteur-driven major premieres such as Manchester by the Sea and Certain Women last year, near the top of our most-anticipated films is Luca Guadagnino‘s follow-up to A Bigger Splash, Call Me By Your Name. Ahead of the premiere later this month, it’s now been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for around $6 million, according to THR.
An adaptation of André Aciman‘s novel, scripted by James Ivory and the director, it follows a 17-year-old boy who begins a romance with his father’s house guest. Taking the role of the boy is Interstellar star Timothée Chalamet while Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man) plays his father and Armie Hammer takes the role of the house guest. It’s also been revealed that Sufjan Stevens, whose last album Carrie & Lowell was one of 2015’s best, has written and performed original songs for the film.
An adaptation of André Aciman‘s novel, scripted by James Ivory and the director, it follows a 17-year-old boy who begins a romance with his father’s house guest. Taking the role of the boy is Interstellar star Timothée Chalamet while Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man) plays his father and Armie Hammer takes the role of the house guest. It’s also been revealed that Sufjan Stevens, whose last album Carrie & Lowell was one of 2015’s best, has written and performed original songs for the film.
- 1/8/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Festival’s new $20,000 international competition prize goes to Albert Serra for The Death Of Louis Xiv; One Week And A Day wins best Israeli feature.
The 33rd Jerusalem Film Festival, which wraps on Sunday, has awarded its top prizes to The Death Of Louis Xiv by Albert Serra (best international film), One Week And A Day by Asaph Polonsky (best Israeli feature), and Dimona Twist by Michal Aviad (best Israeli documentary).
The international jury was comprised of Cornerstone Films’ Alison Thompson, Icelandic director Grímur Hákonarson, and Israeli director Talya Lavie, who praised Serra “for creating a bold and distinctive chamber piece in a beautifully detailed world. For its stunning set design and cinematography that captures its period brilliantly. For creating an intimate and moving look at the sunset of a great figure in history.”
An honourable mention went to Tobias Lindholm’s A War.
The Death Of Louis Xiv wins the $20,000 cash prize for the festival’s new international...
The 33rd Jerusalem Film Festival, which wraps on Sunday, has awarded its top prizes to The Death Of Louis Xiv by Albert Serra (best international film), One Week And A Day by Asaph Polonsky (best Israeli feature), and Dimona Twist by Michal Aviad (best Israeli documentary).
The international jury was comprised of Cornerstone Films’ Alison Thompson, Icelandic director Grímur Hákonarson, and Israeli director Talya Lavie, who praised Serra “for creating a bold and distinctive chamber piece in a beautifully detailed world. For its stunning set design and cinematography that captures its period brilliantly. For creating an intimate and moving look at the sunset of a great figure in history.”
An honourable mention went to Tobias Lindholm’s A War.
The Death Of Louis Xiv wins the $20,000 cash prize for the festival’s new international...
- 7/15/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Festival’s new $20,000 international competition prize goes to Albert Serra for The Death of Louis Xiv; One Week And a Day wins best Israeli feature.
The 33rd Jerusalem Film Festival, which wraps on Sunday, has awarded its top prizes to The Death of Louis Xiv by Albert Serra (best international film), One Week And A Day by Asaph Polonsky (best Israeli feature), and Dimona Twist by Michal Aviad (best Israeli documentary).
The jury was comprised of Cornerstone Films’ Alison Thompson, Icelandic director Grímur Hákonarson, and Israeli director Talya Lavie, who praised Serra “for creating a bold and distinctive chamber piece in a beautifully detailed world. For its stunning set design and cinematography that captures its period brilliantly. For creating an intimate and moving look at the sunset of a great figure in history.”
An honourable mention went to Tobias Lindholm’s A War.
Louis Xiv wins the $20,000 cash prize for the festival’s new international competition, supported...
The 33rd Jerusalem Film Festival, which wraps on Sunday, has awarded its top prizes to The Death of Louis Xiv by Albert Serra (best international film), One Week And A Day by Asaph Polonsky (best Israeli feature), and Dimona Twist by Michal Aviad (best Israeli documentary).
The jury was comprised of Cornerstone Films’ Alison Thompson, Icelandic director Grímur Hákonarson, and Israeli director Talya Lavie, who praised Serra “for creating a bold and distinctive chamber piece in a beautifully detailed world. For its stunning set design and cinematography that captures its period brilliantly. For creating an intimate and moving look at the sunset of a great figure in history.”
An honourable mention went to Tobias Lindholm’s A War.
Louis Xiv wins the $20,000 cash prize for the festival’s new international competition, supported...
- 7/15/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Matan Yair’s Scaffolding [pictured] and Keren Yedaya’s Red Fields were among the winners at the 11th edition of the event.
The winners of the 11th edition of Pitch Point at Jerusalem Film Festival (July 7-17) have been revealed, with Matan Yair’s Scaffolding taking the $5,200 Van Leer Award.
The drama depicts a 17-year-old student whose life is thrown into turmoil when his literature teacher and role model commits suicide.
The jury, which included Dylan Leiner of Sony Pictures Classics, Vanessa Saal of Protagonist Pictures and Remi Burah of Arte France Cinema, commended the project for its “passion and inspiration” that will help it “cross all borders”. The film already has support from the Israeli Film Fund and the Polish Film Institute and was produced by Gal Greenspan, whose previous projects include Tom Shoval’s Youth.
Read: Pitch Point in focus
The event, aimed at connecting Israeli productions with international partners, presented the $17,000 Cinelab...
The winners of the 11th edition of Pitch Point at Jerusalem Film Festival (July 7-17) have been revealed, with Matan Yair’s Scaffolding taking the $5,200 Van Leer Award.
The drama depicts a 17-year-old student whose life is thrown into turmoil when his literature teacher and role model commits suicide.
The jury, which included Dylan Leiner of Sony Pictures Classics, Vanessa Saal of Protagonist Pictures and Remi Burah of Arte France Cinema, commended the project for its “passion and inspiration” that will help it “cross all borders”. The film already has support from the Israeli Film Fund and the Polish Film Institute and was produced by Gal Greenspan, whose previous projects include Tom Shoval’s Youth.
Read: Pitch Point in focus
The event, aimed at connecting Israeli productions with international partners, presented the $17,000 Cinelab...
- 7/11/2016
- ScreenDaily
Dylan Leiner, Alison Thompson discussed the distribution, VOD and the future of cinema culture during a festival panel.
Dylan Leiner, Evp acquisitions and production at Sony Pictures Classics (Spc), and Alison Thompson, head of sales company Cornerstone Films, shared their experiences as industry heavyweights at Jerusalem Film Festival on Friday (July 8), with Philippa Kowarsky, head of sales company Cinephil, moderating.
The panel was titled ‘Commercial Distribution of Documentary Cinema’ but Leiner and Thompson used the forum to address wider challenges in the industry, including the changes wrought by VOD and the future of cinema culture and curation.
Thompson, who ran Focus Features International for eight years before launching Cornerstone, which helped take Asif Kapadia’s Amy [pictured] from initial sales pitch at Cannes 2013 to best documentary Oscar winner, agreed her industry was in the midst of painful reconfiguration. But she also expressed confidence that “the nadir” had been reached, and felt optimistic about what the next five years...
Dylan Leiner, Evp acquisitions and production at Sony Pictures Classics (Spc), and Alison Thompson, head of sales company Cornerstone Films, shared their experiences as industry heavyweights at Jerusalem Film Festival on Friday (July 8), with Philippa Kowarsky, head of sales company Cinephil, moderating.
The panel was titled ‘Commercial Distribution of Documentary Cinema’ but Leiner and Thompson used the forum to address wider challenges in the industry, including the changes wrought by VOD and the future of cinema culture and curation.
Thompson, who ran Focus Features International for eight years before launching Cornerstone, which helped take Asif Kapadia’s Amy [pictured] from initial sales pitch at Cannes 2013 to best documentary Oscar winner, agreed her industry was in the midst of painful reconfiguration. But she also expressed confidence that “the nadir” had been reached, and felt optimistic about what the next five years...
- 7/10/2016
- by matt.mueller@screendaily.com (Matt Mueller)
- ScreenDaily
This Cannes, the Marché du Film and Cinando handed out their first-ever prize: the Cinando Best Seller Award.
Thirteen sales agents from all horizons were invited to participate in a pitching contest that took place on May 17th at the Marché du Film. Selected pitchers were given details of a real project, “Codename Madeleine”, inspired by historical events, from an original idea by Pan Nalin, its director. They then had 48 hours to prepare a 5-minute pitch that would convince the Cinando Awards jury composed of three distributors: Norio Hatano from Longride (Japan), Ira von Gienanth from Prokino (Germany), Dylan Leiner from Sony Pictures Classics (USA) and producer-sales agent Raphaël Berdugo from Cité Films (France).
The jury announced the contest winners at an event at the Plage des Palmes on May 18th, alongside Jérôme Paillard, Market exec director, Nicolas Brigaud-Robert from Films Distribution and John Hopewell from Variety.
Awardees were announced as follows:
- Winners Ex aequo: Chantal Chateauneuf, Mongrel International (Canada) and Georgia Poivre, Films Distribution (France)
- Second Prize: Rahmat Adam, Creative Content Malaysia (Malaysia)
- Honorable Mention: Emmanuel Pisarra, Doc & Film International (France)
The 2 top winners got their portrait and interview in Variety.
Here their profiles written by John Hopewell.
Georgia Poivre, Films Distribution, France
From a an internship in acquisitions with Wild Bunch, based out of New York over 2012-13, to a gig in the home entertainment marketing department at Paris-h.Q.-ed Studiocanal in 2014, to international sales manager at Wide in 2015, Poivre has come a long way fast. She joined Paris-based Films Distribution – one of Europe’s highest-profile sale companies with subsids or affiliates in Berlin, Brussels and now London – as international sales manager in April.
Pitching, Poivre said Wednesday, “I tried to do what I’ve seen [Films Distribution partners] Nicolas [Brigaud-Robert] and Francois [Yon] do: Get to the passion of the story, its essence, the characters. Without motivation, there’s no character, no conflict, no story.” She was one of the only sales agents to key into what really – in part – might have driven Khan: Her desire to be an Indian “superhero,” in Poivre’s words, serving Britain in WWII so that Britain would serve India’s interests, granting it independence.
Also, her Jewish fiance was deported. “Sometimes, romantic motivation can be above all the rest,” Poivre said. “Dynamic,” in one juror’s words, the ex-Boston U alum, majoring in film and TV, was born and raised in Paris. She was also one of the only sales agents to give ‘Codename: Madeleine’ an industrial context.
“She talked about the timeline, when delivery would be, which kind of festivals the film was suited for,” said Gienanth.
“I try to get very passionate about what I’m selling, communicate not only the story but my excitement about it,” Poivre said.
“She takes pride and joy in getting people to agree with her, convincing a buyer to see a movie or buy it. By the same token, she’s kind and gentle, she doesn’t bully her buyer. If you push people too much, they get scared. It’s like hunting,” said Brigaud-Robert.
Chantal Chateauneuf, Mongrel International
“A good seller is not the person that tells you the entire story but is a person who tells you enough in order for you to want to engage with the story,” Leiner argued.
Chateauneuf was a case in point. With “a flow in her pitch,” said Gienanth, she captured the essence of the story concisely in very few minutes, no easy task.
“It important the sales agent knows about the director they’re pitching,” Gienanth added. Here Chateauneuf was in her element, Mongrel Intl. having sold “Codename: Madeleine’s” director Pan Nalin’s latest film, “Angry Indian Goddesses”: “He looks at women in India with a fresh, contemporary lens, focusing on the average woman, who is moderately educated, dealing with real female problems: Work-life balance, sexuality,” Chateauneuf enthused.
Like Poivre, Chateauneuf also keyed in what deep motivation” “Part of it is her father’s influence, her religious inclination, which inspired her to fight injustice around the world.”
Very together, Chateauneuf studied at Montreal’s McGill U, started at Mongrel as sales coordinator in 2014 and, when it launched an international sales division under Charlotte Mickie, moved to a sales position. “She’s efficient, astute and passionate. An amazing combination! We’re so lucky to have her on our team,” a proud Mickie glowed.
Thirteen sales agents from all horizons were invited to participate in a pitching contest that took place on May 17th at the Marché du Film. Selected pitchers were given details of a real project, “Codename Madeleine”, inspired by historical events, from an original idea by Pan Nalin, its director. They then had 48 hours to prepare a 5-minute pitch that would convince the Cinando Awards jury composed of three distributors: Norio Hatano from Longride (Japan), Ira von Gienanth from Prokino (Germany), Dylan Leiner from Sony Pictures Classics (USA) and producer-sales agent Raphaël Berdugo from Cité Films (France).
The jury announced the contest winners at an event at the Plage des Palmes on May 18th, alongside Jérôme Paillard, Market exec director, Nicolas Brigaud-Robert from Films Distribution and John Hopewell from Variety.
Awardees were announced as follows:
- Winners Ex aequo: Chantal Chateauneuf, Mongrel International (Canada) and Georgia Poivre, Films Distribution (France)
- Second Prize: Rahmat Adam, Creative Content Malaysia (Malaysia)
- Honorable Mention: Emmanuel Pisarra, Doc & Film International (France)
The 2 top winners got their portrait and interview in Variety.
Here their profiles written by John Hopewell.
Georgia Poivre, Films Distribution, France
From a an internship in acquisitions with Wild Bunch, based out of New York over 2012-13, to a gig in the home entertainment marketing department at Paris-h.Q.-ed Studiocanal in 2014, to international sales manager at Wide in 2015, Poivre has come a long way fast. She joined Paris-based Films Distribution – one of Europe’s highest-profile sale companies with subsids or affiliates in Berlin, Brussels and now London – as international sales manager in April.
Pitching, Poivre said Wednesday, “I tried to do what I’ve seen [Films Distribution partners] Nicolas [Brigaud-Robert] and Francois [Yon] do: Get to the passion of the story, its essence, the characters. Without motivation, there’s no character, no conflict, no story.” She was one of the only sales agents to key into what really – in part – might have driven Khan: Her desire to be an Indian “superhero,” in Poivre’s words, serving Britain in WWII so that Britain would serve India’s interests, granting it independence.
Also, her Jewish fiance was deported. “Sometimes, romantic motivation can be above all the rest,” Poivre said. “Dynamic,” in one juror’s words, the ex-Boston U alum, majoring in film and TV, was born and raised in Paris. She was also one of the only sales agents to give ‘Codename: Madeleine’ an industrial context.
“She talked about the timeline, when delivery would be, which kind of festivals the film was suited for,” said Gienanth.
“I try to get very passionate about what I’m selling, communicate not only the story but my excitement about it,” Poivre said.
“She takes pride and joy in getting people to agree with her, convincing a buyer to see a movie or buy it. By the same token, she’s kind and gentle, she doesn’t bully her buyer. If you push people too much, they get scared. It’s like hunting,” said Brigaud-Robert.
Chantal Chateauneuf, Mongrel International
“A good seller is not the person that tells you the entire story but is a person who tells you enough in order for you to want to engage with the story,” Leiner argued.
Chateauneuf was a case in point. With “a flow in her pitch,” said Gienanth, she captured the essence of the story concisely in very few minutes, no easy task.
“It important the sales agent knows about the director they’re pitching,” Gienanth added. Here Chateauneuf was in her element, Mongrel Intl. having sold “Codename: Madeleine’s” director Pan Nalin’s latest film, “Angry Indian Goddesses”: “He looks at women in India with a fresh, contemporary lens, focusing on the average woman, who is moderately educated, dealing with real female problems: Work-life balance, sexuality,” Chateauneuf enthused.
Like Poivre, Chateauneuf also keyed in what deep motivation” “Part of it is her father’s influence, her religious inclination, which inspired her to fight injustice around the world.”
Very together, Chateauneuf studied at Montreal’s McGill U, started at Mongrel as sales coordinator in 2014 and, when it launched an international sales division under Charlotte Mickie, moved to a sales position. “She’s efficient, astute and passionate. An amazing combination! We’re so lucky to have her on our team,” a proud Mickie glowed.
- 5/24/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
We arrived on Thursday on the Sundance Express Airliner. First seats in first class, all on an aisle row seat one behind the other: Rena Ronson of UTA (read Indiewire article on “making the grade at UTA” Here, Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road and Board of Directors Film Independent, Peter Schlessel of Focus Features, and in cabin class Tony Safford, Evp, of acquisitions at 20th Century Fox and his wife Julie. Arriving late, I missed the Sundance press conference. But you can read all about it and all of Day One on the Sundance blog Here. We were also too late to pick up our registration and so our Opening Night looked like it would begin with the annual Indiewire Chili party hosted by Rose McGowan, director of her directorial debut, the short, Dawn. But before braving the cold walk up the hill, we stopped in at the Yarrow Bar to check in on our flat mate Peggy Johnson, Executive Director of The Loft, Tucson’s non-profit, independent arthouse theater.
As always, the best part of our traveling on the film circuit is seeing old and dear friends: Laurie Ann Schag, VP of Independent Documentary Association whose Sundance node is Here , Susan Margolin, Cinedigm President in charge of Docurama and Special Acquisitions, Jillian Slonin missing her husband Larry Kardish, Senior Curator Emeritus of Film, The Museum of Modern Art, New York who was in India on the jury at the Pune International Film Festival, Telefilm Canada’s Sr. Advisor, Festivals and Industry Promotion, Brigitte Hubmann, excited about this years Arthouse Convergence and the possibility of streaming films on new platforms.
While there, we also saw Sony Pictures Classics’s Michael Barker and Dylan Leiner going tete a tete very intensely. They were the first to make a deal here, acquiring opening night film Whiplash U.S. rights (according to Toh, “reportedly for around $3 million, however after Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group had already picked up many foreign territories before the festival”.) Those territories are reported as Canada, Germany and Australia. Parlux has Hungary rights. Writer/ director Damien Chazelle’s prize winning short at last year’s Sundance came back with a feature length film of it this time produced by Jason Blum and financed by Bold Films, (Isa: Sierra Affinity) proving once again, Shorts are In The Air! Miles Teller plays a school drummer with potential who strives for perfection under the tutelage of a ruthless band conductor. This was a Sundance supported project which received 2013 Cinereach Project at Sundance Institute Grant, a Sundance Screenwriting Mentorship as well.
A propos of shorts and Sundance, the Somali pirate film, a U.S.-Somalia-Kenya coproduction, (Isa: Altitude Film, U.S. Producer Rep: Wme) Fishing Without Nets’ filmmakers met Vice Films at Sundance 2012 after they saw the short film, Fishing Without Nets, which led them to producing the feature version as Vice Films’ first fictional feature.
So Sundance is definitely the place for shorts. At the next day’s International Filmmakers Lunch we met another short filmmaker whose short Love, Love, Love about Russian female stereotypes is a must see. More in tomorrow’s Day 2 Sundance Journal.
As always, the best part of our traveling on the film circuit is seeing old and dear friends: Laurie Ann Schag, VP of Independent Documentary Association whose Sundance node is Here , Susan Margolin, Cinedigm President in charge of Docurama and Special Acquisitions, Jillian Slonin missing her husband Larry Kardish, Senior Curator Emeritus of Film, The Museum of Modern Art, New York who was in India on the jury at the Pune International Film Festival, Telefilm Canada’s Sr. Advisor, Festivals and Industry Promotion, Brigitte Hubmann, excited about this years Arthouse Convergence and the possibility of streaming films on new platforms.
While there, we also saw Sony Pictures Classics’s Michael Barker and Dylan Leiner going tete a tete very intensely. They were the first to make a deal here, acquiring opening night film Whiplash U.S. rights (according to Toh, “reportedly for around $3 million, however after Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group had already picked up many foreign territories before the festival”.) Those territories are reported as Canada, Germany and Australia. Parlux has Hungary rights. Writer/ director Damien Chazelle’s prize winning short at last year’s Sundance came back with a feature length film of it this time produced by Jason Blum and financed by Bold Films, (Isa: Sierra Affinity) proving once again, Shorts are In The Air! Miles Teller plays a school drummer with potential who strives for perfection under the tutelage of a ruthless band conductor. This was a Sundance supported project which received 2013 Cinereach Project at Sundance Institute Grant, a Sundance Screenwriting Mentorship as well.
A propos of shorts and Sundance, the Somali pirate film, a U.S.-Somalia-Kenya coproduction, (Isa: Altitude Film, U.S. Producer Rep: Wme) Fishing Without Nets’ filmmakers met Vice Films at Sundance 2012 after they saw the short film, Fishing Without Nets, which led them to producing the feature version as Vice Films’ first fictional feature.
So Sundance is definitely the place for shorts. At the next day’s International Filmmakers Lunch we met another short filmmaker whose short Love, Love, Love about Russian female stereotypes is a must see. More in tomorrow’s Day 2 Sundance Journal.
- 1/22/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its 276-member-strong class of 2013.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
- 7/4/2013
- by Laura Larson
- Moviefone
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the 276 members of the entertainment industry invited to join organization. The list includes actors, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, producers and more. Of those listed below, those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2013. "These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today," said Academy President Hawk Koch in a press release. "Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy." Koch also told Variety, "In the past eight or nine years, each branch could only bring in X amount of members. There were people each branch would have liked to get in but couldn't. We asked them to be more inclusive of the best of the best, and each branch was excited, because they got...
- 6/28/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy just added 276 Oscar voters.
That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.
AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.
Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...
That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.
AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.
Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Anthony Breznican
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 276 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2013.
“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”
The 2013 invitees are:
Actors
Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”
Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”
Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”
Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”
Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”
Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”
Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”
Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...
“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”
The 2013 invitees are:
Actors
Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”
Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”
Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”
Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”
Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”
Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”
Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”
Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Dylan Leiner and Martin Marquet invited me to Lafest, at Home Depot Center but I could not go. Michael Donaldson went though and his team played pretty well I hear. Dylan and Martin started it 3 years ago in NY and teamed with Tribeca. This year they took the event to L.A and are co-hosting with the Mia Hamm Foundation.
Lafest (Los Angeles Film & Entertainment Soccer Tournament) kicked off their first annual entertainment industry soccer event in La. The all-day event featured a 5v5 entertainment industry soccer tournament, a youth soccer showcase and tournament and culminated with the 5th Annual Mia Hamm & Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge. Lafest was the preeminent soccer event of its kind on the West Coast, bringing together film, entertainment, media and advertising professionals and celebrities who are passionate about soccer. In addition to Soccer Hall of Famer and former Us Women's National Soccer Team Captain Mia Hamm, Survivor: Africa Winner and Grassroot Soccer Co-Founder Ethan Zohn and former Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodger great Nomar Garciaparra, the event welcomed celebrity participants from the entertainment and sports worlds.
Lafest marked the coming together of the New York Film and Entertainment Soccer Tournament (Nyfest) founded in 2011 by Sony Pictures Classics Evp of Acquisitions & Production and lifelong footballer, Dylan Leiner, filmmaker and former professional soccer player, Jeffrey Saunders, and the Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge, which was launched in 2008.
Proceeds supported the Mia Hamm Foundation and Grassroot Soccer
Participating sports celebrities included: Mia Hamm, Normar Garciaparra, Julie Foudy, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Joy Fawcett, Tisha Venturini Hoch, Jimmy Conrad, Jay Feely, Lauren Cheney, Cobi Jones, Indi Cowie, Oliver Wyss, Eli Freeze, Eric Wynalda, Rebecca Soni.
Participating entertainment celebrities include: Ethan Zohn, Alessandro Nivola, Chris Harrison, Clark Gregg, Diego Luna, Demian Bichir, Anthony Lapaglia, Dule Hill, Sabrina Bryan, Mike Medavoy, Nana Meriwether, Tristan MacManus, Warren Barton, Ben Lyons.
Lafest (Los Angeles Film & Entertainment Soccer Tournament) kicked off their first annual entertainment industry soccer event in La. The all-day event featured a 5v5 entertainment industry soccer tournament, a youth soccer showcase and tournament and culminated with the 5th Annual Mia Hamm & Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge. Lafest was the preeminent soccer event of its kind on the West Coast, bringing together film, entertainment, media and advertising professionals and celebrities who are passionate about soccer. In addition to Soccer Hall of Famer and former Us Women's National Soccer Team Captain Mia Hamm, Survivor: Africa Winner and Grassroot Soccer Co-Founder Ethan Zohn and former Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodger great Nomar Garciaparra, the event welcomed celebrity participants from the entertainment and sports worlds.
Lafest marked the coming together of the New York Film and Entertainment Soccer Tournament (Nyfest) founded in 2011 by Sony Pictures Classics Evp of Acquisitions & Production and lifelong footballer, Dylan Leiner, filmmaker and former professional soccer player, Jeffrey Saunders, and the Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge, which was launched in 2008.
Proceeds supported the Mia Hamm Foundation and Grassroot Soccer
Participating sports celebrities included: Mia Hamm, Normar Garciaparra, Julie Foudy, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Joy Fawcett, Tisha Venturini Hoch, Jimmy Conrad, Jay Feely, Lauren Cheney, Cobi Jones, Indi Cowie, Oliver Wyss, Eli Freeze, Eric Wynalda, Rebecca Soni.
Participating entertainment celebrities include: Ethan Zohn, Alessandro Nivola, Chris Harrison, Clark Gregg, Diego Luna, Demian Bichir, Anthony Lapaglia, Dule Hill, Sabrina Bryan, Mike Medavoy, Nana Meriwether, Tristan MacManus, Warren Barton, Ben Lyons.
- 4/2/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Los Angeles Film and Entertainment Soccer Tournament (Lafest), in partnership with The Mia Hamm Foundation and Grassroots Soccer, kicked off its first annual celebrity soccer charity event on Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Sony Classics Pictures' team emerged the victor of the industry portion of the tournament. Lafest co-founders and soccer enthusiasts Dylan Leiner and Jeffrey Saunders hosted the event, alongside pro-sports power couple Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra, as well as Ethan Zohn -- a pro soccer player and the $1 million winner of Survivor's third season -- who also served as co-founder. The goal? To raise money for cancer
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- 3/25/2013
- by Marc Inocencio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Los Angeles Film and Entertainment Soccer Tournament (Lafest), in partnership with The Mia Hamm Foundation and Grassroots Soccer, this weekend kicked off its first annual celebrity soccer charity event at the Home Depot Center, with the team from Sony Classics Pictures emerging as the winner of the industry portion of the tournament. Lafest co-founders and soccer enthusiasts Dylan Leiner and Jeffrey Saunders hosted the event alongside sports industry power couple Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra and Grassroots Soccer founder Ethan Zohn to raise money for bone marrow and HIV awareness charities. The Hollywood Reporter served as media sponsor.
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- 3/25/2013
- by Marc Inocencio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A group of 40 showbiz companies have assembled teams for a youth showcase and celeb match this weekend with soccer stars like Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach, and soccer-capable actors including Diego Luna, Demian Bichir, Anthony Lapaglia, Alessandro Nivola, The Bachelor host Chris Harrison and Mike Medavoy. Event co-founder and Sony Pictures Classics exec Dylan Leiner said the event will be held Sunday at Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, and that companies including CAA, ICM Partners, Gersh, Paradigm, Spc, Lionsgate, Endgame, Anonymous Content, The Amazing Race, Survivor, The Bachelor and others rallied to take part in support of The Mia Hamm Foundation and Grassrootsoccer. Info at LAFest.net.
- 3/22/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline TV
A group of 40 showbiz companies have assembled teams for a youth showcase and celeb match this weekend with soccer stars like Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach, and soccer-capable actors including Diego Luna, Demian Bichir, Anthony Lapaglia, Alessandro Nivola, The Bachelor host Chris Harrison and Mike Medavoy. Event co-founder and Sony Pictures Classics exec Dylan Leiner said the event will be held Sunday at Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, and that companies including CAA, ICM Partners, Gersh, Paradigm, Spc, Lionsgate, Endgame, Anonymous Content, The Amazing Race, Survivor, The Bachelor and others rallied to take part in support of The Mia Hamm Foundation and Grassrootsoccer. Info at LAFest.net.
- 3/22/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
This weekend at the Galway Fleadh's Real Deal, Business of Creativity Conference, Sony Pictures Classics Executive Vice President Dylan Leiner told the filmmakers and industry professionals convened that it's time to put filmmakers first again. With so much talk about new filmmaking technologies and distribution strategies, Leiner thinks the film business is losing its focus on filmmaking and storytelling. Below is Leiner's speech to the Real Deal crowd, reprinted with permission from the Irish Film Board. ___________________________________ Filmmakers First A Keynote Address By Dylan Leiner, Sony Pictures Classics “Ultraviolet, Key Chest, iTunes, electronic-sell-through, VOD, Svod, Nvod, day and date, Hulu, Vudu, Netflix, LoveFilm, Amazon, X-Box... Shrinking windows, cratering DVD revenue, skyrocketing budgets, social networking, piracy... With all the headlines and forecasts about new...
- 7/16/2012
- by Dylan Leiner
- Indiewire
Sony Pictures Classics announced North American, Latin American and Eastern European rights to Celeste & Jesse Forever. The Lee Toland Krieger-directed comedy was co-written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, and is produced by Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd and Lee Nelson. The film, which debuted in the Premiere Section of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, stars Jones, Andy Samberg, Chris Messina, Ari Graynor, McCormack, Emma Roberts, and Elijah Wood. The comedy is about two people who met in high school, married young and are growing apart. Now 30, they decide to get divorced and attempt to stay best friends while pursuing other relationships. This plan is not as simple as they had imagined. Spc’s Tom Bernard, Michael Barker and Dylan Leiner made the deal with UTA Independent Film Group. Said the producers: “We are thrilled our film has found a home with Sony Pictures Classics and are incredibly excited to work with Michael,...
- 1/24/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
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