Spettacolo is described as a documentary fairy tale directed by Jeff Malberg (Marwencol) and Chris Shellen, about a tiny Italian farming village that turns their lives into a play. The film which had it’s world premiere at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival, will open in theaters in New York on September 6th, 2017.
Once upon a time, villagers in a tiny hill town in Tuscany came up with a remarkable way to confront their issues: they turned their lives into a play. Every summer, their piazza became their stage and residents of all ages played a part – the role of themselves. Monticchiello’s annual tradition has attracted worldwide attention and kept the town together for 50 years, but with an aging population and a future generation more interested in Facebook than farming, the town’s 50th anniversary performance just might be its last. Spettacolo tells the story of Teatro Povero di Monticchiello, interweaving episodes from its past with its modern-day process as the villagers turn a series of devastating blows into a new play about the end of their world.Terry P.
VIMOOZ is for lovers of independent films + foreign film + documentary + film festivals. We love championing the little films.
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Documentary Fairy Tale SPETTACOLO to Open in New York on September 6th
Spettacolo is described as a documentary fairy tale directed by Jeff Malberg (Marwencol) and Chris Shellen, about a tiny Italian farming village that turns their lives into a play. The film which had it’s world premiere at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival, will open in theaters in New York on September 6th, 2017.
Once upon a time, villagers in a tiny hill town in Tuscany came up with a remarkable way to confront their issues: they turned their lives into a play. Every summer, their piazza became their stage and residents of all ages played a part – the role of themselves. Monticchiello’s annual tradition has attracted worldwide attention and kept the town together for 50 years, but with an aging population and a future generation more interested in Facebook than farming, the town’s 50th anniversary performance just might be its last. Spettacolo tells the story of Teatro Povero di Monticchiello, interweaving episodes from its past with its modern-day process as the villagers turn a series of devastating blows into a new play about the end of their world.
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3 New Films Including World Premiere of MANHUNT by John Woo Added to Venice International Film Festival
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John Woo[/caption]
The world premieres of Manhunt by John Woo; L’ordine delle cose by Andrea Segre; L’Enigma di Jean Rouch a Torino by Marco di Castri, Paolo Favaro, Daniele Pianciola have been added to the lineup of the 74th Venice International Film Festival, taking place August 30 to September 9, 2017.
MANHUNT (ZHUIBU)
The much-awaited return of John Woo to the crime thriller movies which made him famous, The Killer and Hardboiled. A contemporary remake of a Japanese classic of the genre, it’s the story of a Chinese man who is framed for murder in Japan; he tries to clear his name as he dodges a manhunt organized by the Japanese police and the attacks of mysterious killers. John Woo (A Better Tomorrow, Face/Off) received the Golden Lion for Career Achievement in Venice in 2010. The film will be presented Out of Competition.
L’ORDINE DELLE COSE
The film by Andrea Segre (Shun Li and the Poet, First Snowfall) tells the story of Corrado, a policeman who is a member of a task force running the system which controls the flow of immigrants. Corrado is sent to coordinate a delicate mission in Libya, where he meets Swada, a young Somali woman who is trying to rejoin her husband in Finland. The film will be presented in Special Screenings.
L’ENIGMA DI JEAN ROUCH A TORINO – CRONACA DI UN FILM RATÉ
The film by Marco di Castri, Paolo Favaro and Daniele Pianciola is a documentary about a true “laboratory of ideas” and the film it generated: Enigma. The documentary reconstructs the two years between the arrival of Jean Rouch and the project’s conclusion, and is told through the voices of its protagonists as they dialogue with extraordinary material: over 20 hours of making-of. The film will be presented in the competitive section Venezia Classici – Documentaries.
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Brazilian Teen Horror Drama KILL ME PLEASE Sets US Release Date
Anita Rocha da Silveira’s debut feature KILL ME PLEASE, is described as “a unique blend of coming-of-age drama with slow-burning horror.”
The film, an official selection at SXSW, Venice and New Directors / New Films, snagged the awards for Best Director (Fiction) and Best Actress, given to Valentina Herszage, at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival. Slated to open Friday, September 1, at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn, the film will expand nationwide during the fall. A VOD and physical media release is expected by May 2018.
Bia (Valentina Herszage), Michele (Júlia Roliz), Mariana (Mariana Oliveira) and Renata (Dora Freind) are a clique of affluent high school girls. They waste away their days wandering the fields between the vertigo-inducing high rises in Barra da Tijuca, an affluent new neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Both privileged and abandoned by busy parents, the girls spend most of their time together.
When a wave of murders begins to terrorize the neighborhood, the girls develop a morbid curiosity with the victims – and lines separating life, desire and death begins to break down.
Blending coming-of-age with slow-burning horror, partly inspired by the 1980s teen slasher genre, Kill Me Please is a disturbing and funny dive into teenage sexuality, spirituality, loneliness and fragility – as well as an ambitious feature debut by a young and promising Brazilian director, Anita Rocha da Silveira.
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THE DIVINE ORDER is Switzerland’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | TRAILER
The Divine Order directed by Petra Volpe has been selected by Switzerland as the country’s official entry in the Foreign Language Film category of the 90th Academy Awards.
The period dramedy set in 1971 about the fight for women’s suffrage in Switzerland screened earlier this year at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the Audience Narrative Award, the Nora Ephron Prize for Petra Volpe, and Best Actress in an International Narrative Feature Film for Marie Leuenberger.
1971: Nora is a young housewife and mother, living in a quaint little village with her husband and their two sons. The Swiss countryside is untouched by the major social upheavals the movement of 1968 has brought about. Nora’s life is not affected either; she is a quiet person who is liked by everybody – until she starts to publicly fight for women’s suffrage, which the men are due to vote on in a ballot on February 7, 1971.
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Documentary MAMA AFRICA: MIRIAM MAKEBA on South African Singer to Be Released in US | Trailer
The documentary Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba by Mika Kaurismaki on South African singer Miriam Makeba will be released in the US by ArtMattan Films, the film distribution arm of ArtMattan Productions
Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba by Mika Kaurismaki introduces to a new generation of Americans the world-famous South African singer Miriam Makeba and her legacy. Miriam Makeba (1932-2008) spent half a century traveling the world spreading her political message to fight racism, poverty and promote justice and peace. Through rare archive footage of her performances and through testimonies of her contemporaries and supporters including Harry Belafonte, Stokely Carmichael, Hugh Masekela, Paul Simon, Angélique Kidjo and many others – we discover Miriam Makeba’s remarkable journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maTw6zAJQEw
THEATRICAL DATES:
ADIFF DC – 8/18/17 Parkway Theater, Baltimore – 8/18 to 8/24 Austin Film Society – 9/23 & 9/30 Virginia Film Festival – 11/10 & 11/12 Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Toronto – 2/27/18
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4 Indie Films Selected for Tallgrass International Film Festival Stubbornly Independent Competition
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20 WEEKS[/caption]
Four independent films have been selected to compete in this year’s 2017 Tallgrass International Film Festival Stubbornly Independent competition.
Selections include Leena Pendharkar’s 20 WEEKS, Chris Hansen’s BLUR CIRCLE, Jameson Brooks’s BOMB CITY, and Dustin Cook’s I HATE THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT.
The award is given to honor an independent film or filmmaker who takes risks and isn’t afraid to tell important stories, and does all of this within the ultra-low budget of $500,000 or less. The winner will be featured as the Stubbornly Independent Gala Spotlight selection on Saturday, October 21st, will receive the Jake Euker Stubbornly Independent Award, and a $5,000 cash prize. The three runners up will be included as official selections in the festival and will be eligible for the Audience Award for Narrative Feature and $2,500 cash prize.
“This year’s selections feature stories and characters that are both timely and easily relatable, while delivering a unique and bold take, leading to films that feel anything but familiar,” said Tallgrass Film Festival’s Programing Director Nick Pope. “Ultimately these are films about redemption and self-discovery in a world that can be messy and unpredictable, but also rewarding and surprising. We’re honored to be showcasing these stories to Wichita audiences.”
This year marks the 6th year of the SI competition, where eligible films must be domestic narrative feature films made for $500,000 or less without traditional, theatrical, domestic distribution at the time of the festival screening. Finalists will be juried by a panel of industry professionals including Rebecca Celli (Cargo Films), Nancy Gerstman (Zeitgeist Films) and Jeffrey Winter (Film Collaborative.) The Stubbornly Independent competition winner will be announced with the Tallgrass Film Festival’s lineup next month.
20 WEEKS Director: Leena Pendharkar Country: USA, Running Time: 89min
20 WEEKS is a romantic drama about love, science and how prenatal and genetic testing impacts everyday people. Against the backdrop of modern-day Los Angeles, the story follows Maya and Ronan’s journey – interweaving their past and present – after learning that their baby has a serious health issue at their 20-week scan. Inspired, in part, by writer/director Leena’s Pendharkar’s real life experiences with her second daughter, the film seeks to explore an intimate issue that isn’t often talked about.
BLUR CIRCLE Director: Chris Hansen Country: USA, Running Time: 92min
BLUR CIRLCE is the story of Jill Temple, a single mother still grieving the loss of her young son after he disappeared two years ago. Unable to face the possibility that she has lost him forever, she pursues every lead and meets Burton Rose, a man with a mysterious past. The details of that past – and how Burton has responded to it – force Jill to look at her life in a completely new way.
BOMB CITY Director, Jameson Brooks Country: USA, Running Time: 95min
Based on the true story of Brian Deneke, BOMB CITY is a crime-drama about the cultural aversion of teenage punks in a conservative Texas town. Their ongoing battle with a rival, more-affluent group of jocks, leads to a controversial hate crime that questions the morality of American justice
I HATE THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT Director, Dustin Cook Country: USA, Running Time: 103min
Lonely and isolated, Claude is still grieving the murder of his wife. When he’s reluctantly coerced by his obnoxious co-worker to join him for some salsa lessons, Claude develops an unexpected crush on his instructor Kyra. Unfortunately, he’s not sure how to move forward with this budding romance since he still has an unconventional situation in his basement…
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First Wave of Films Announced for 2017 Calgary International Film Festival, BORG/MCENROE and More
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BORG/MCENROE[/caption]
The Calgary International Film Festival (Calgary Film) announced the First Wave of Films playing at the 2017 festival. The first 10 films include BORG/MCENROE which opens the Toronto International Film Festival just weeks before Calgary Film begins. Based on a true story, this film recounts the legendary 1980 Wimbledon match between fierce rivals Björn Borg and John McEnroe.
“We’re always looking for standout films that are buzzing on the circuit, but we handpick for Calgary, with themes that do particularly well with our audiences,” said Brenda Lieberman, Programming Manager of the Calgary International Film Festival. “It’s one of the best parts of our job when we find the perfect combination of titles that excite our festival fans.”
FIRST WAVE FILMS – 2017 Calgary International Film Festival
BORG/MCENROE – Directed by Janus Metz This highly-anticipated biopic about one of the world’s greatest sports rivalries will have its world premiere as the Opening Night Film of the Toronto International Film Festival, mere weeks before it’s on screen in Calgary. THE DIVINE ORDER – Directed by Petra Biondina Volpe Even though this Swiss suffrage story takes place in the 1970s, it still feels relevant today. Lighthearted with a powerful message, women’s voices are at the centre of the narrative and behind the lens. A FANTASTIC WOMAN – Directed by Sebastián Lelio When Marina’s much older boyfriend dies, she must confront the taboo of their relationship to his family and society. Just announced as part of TIFF’s Galas & Special Presentations, this Spanish film was nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear for Best Picture and took home the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlin International Film Festival. FÉLICITÉ – Directed by Alain Gomis With a mesmerizing soundtrack featuring the Kinshasa Symphonic Orchestra, the Congo-set film won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. THE LIGHT OF THE MOON – Directed by Jessica Thompson A woman struggles to regain control of her life after being sexually assaulted. Audience Award Winner for at SXSW, this first-time feature filmmaker casts BROOKLYN NINE-NINE’s Stephanie Beatriz in a revelatory performance. LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA – Directed by AlanKrita Shrivastava This narrative feature from India, packed with humour and plenty of heart, features four women united in their yearning for freedom from society’s restrictive framework. NOBODY’S WATCHING – Directed by Julia Solomonoff An Argentine actor’s failure to establish himself in New York City mirrors the struggle of many immigrants who stumble in their new setting. Star Guillermo Pfening won the Best Actor at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival in the International Narrative Feature category. SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY – Directed by Matt Schrader Some of Hollywood’s greatest film score composers come together to give viewers an unparalleled, behind the scenes look at the creative process, resulting in this fascinating celebration of some of the most iconic scores of all time. SMALL TOWN CRIME – Directed by Ian Nelms This critically-acclaimed, noir-ish thriller features a powerful cast, including Academy Award Nominee John Hawkes (WINTER’S BONE, DEADWOOD), Academy Award Winner Octavia Spencer (THE HELP, HIDDEN FIGURES) and Academy Award Nominee Robert Forster (JACKIE BROWN). A SWINGERS WEEKEND – Directed by Jonathan Cohen Packed with recognizable Canadian actors, including Erin Karpluk from Calgary and Jonas Chernick from previous Calgary Film Selections including MY AWKWARD SEXUAL ADVENTURE and HOW TO PLAN AN ORGY IN A SMALL TOWN, this sex comedy explores the relationships and kinks of three couples, who are all swinging for different reasons. What could possibly go wrong?
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VIDEO: Watch Trailer for TROPHY, Documentary on the World of Big-Game Hunting
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Trophy[/caption]
Shaul Schwarz’s (Narco Cultura) and Christina Clusiau’s provocative new documentary Trophy is a startling exploration of the evolving relationship between big-game hunting and wildlife conservation that emerged a critical favorite of the 2017 Sundance and SXSW film festivals. The film will open in New York at the Quad Cinema (and in Los Angeles) on Friday, September 8. The traditional theatrical release will be complemented by exclusive, one-night event screenings on September 26 in approximately 100 cities across the country.
Endangered African species like elephants, rhinos and lions march closer to extinction each year. Their devastating decline is fueled in part by a global desire to consume these majestic animals. Trophy journeys viewers across lush African forests and vast plains and into the world’s largest hunters’ convention in Las Vegas as it investigates the powerhouse industries of big-game hunting, breeding and wildlife conservation. Through the eyes of impassioned individuals who drive these industries—from a Texas-based trophy hunter to the world’s largest private rhino breeder in South Africa—the film grapples with the consequences of imposing economic value on animals. What are the implications of treating animals as commodities? Do breeding, farming and hunting offer some of the few remaining options to conserve our endangered animals? Trophy will leave you debating what is right, what is wrong and what is necessary in order to save the great species of the world.
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VIDEO: Watch Diana Describe Herself as a ‘Rebel’ in First Clip from PBS Docu DIANA – HER STORY
PBS today released a video clip from Diana – Her Story, a new documentary featuring rare video of Diana, Princess of Wales, speaking openly and candidly about her life and troubled marriage, along with new revealing interviews with some of her closest confidants. What emerges is the story of a shy young girl who was swept onto the world stage in 1980 and who died tragically in 1997 as one of the most famous women in the world, an independent, modern “people’s princess.” The film is produced by Kaboom Film & TV and is directed by Kevin Sim (“Once Upon a Time In Iran,” “Beslan”) and executive produced by Charles Furneaux (“Touching The Void,” “The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall,” “Treblinka”). Diana – Her Story premieres on Tuesday, August 22, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS.
In 1992, Diana, whose marriage was in trouble, was becoming increasingly isolated from the royal family. Believing that her popular appeal was her greatest strength, she hired speech coach Peter Settelen to help improve her public speaking and reinvent her public persona in the midst of personal strife. In a series of disarmingly frank videos shot by Settelen at Kensington Palace, a private Diana comes into view as she ultimately reveals her version of the events. Playful, charming and unguarded, she tells stories from her life in intimate detail, sharing how she went from shy teenage girl to unhappy newlywed to a young woman searching for her own voice and place in the world.
Diana – Her Story places the events of Diana’s life into historical context, revealing a nation hungry for what seemed to be a fairytale marriage between Charles and Diana. Further insight is provided through new in-depth interviews with those closest to Diana, including long-term trusted confidant James Colthurst, ballet teacher Anne Allan, private secretary Patrick Jephson and personal protection officer Ken Wharfe. The multi-layered and nuanced portrait of Diana that emerges is of a naïve teenage girl who ultimately transformed herself into someone the crown would fear as more popular than the monarchy itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3dO2ub626o
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World Premiere of THE DEATH OF STALIN Kicks Off Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform Program Lineup
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The Death of Stalin[/caption]
The 2017 Toronto International Film Festival unveiled its lineup of 12 films for this year’s Platform program. The program will open with the world premiere of The Death of Stalin, from award winning director-writer Armando Iannucci. The historical epic follows the final days leading up to the Soviet dictator’s death. Sweet Country, a period western from acclaimed Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton will close the Platform section.
The films will compete for the Platform Prize, to be awarded by a jury comprising award-winning filmmakers Chen Kaige, Malgorzata Szumowska and Wim Wenders. Last year’s Platform included celebrated films such as William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth, Pablo Larrain’s Jackie and Barry Jenkins’s Academy Award Best Picture winner, Moonlight.
Platform titles are eligible for the Toronto Platform Prize ($25,000 CAD) made possible by Air France.
2017 Toronto International Film Festival Platform Lineup
Beast Michael Pearce, United Kingdom World Premiere Brad’s Status Mike White, USA World Premiere Custody Xavier Legrand, France North American Premiere Dark River Clio Barnard, United Kingdom World Premiere Platform Opening Film The Death of Stalin Armando Iannucci, France/United Kingdom/Belgium World Premiere Euphoria Lisa Langseth, Sweden/Germany World Premiere If You Saw His Heart Joan Chemla, France World Premiere Mademoiselle Paradis Barbara Albert, Austria/Germany World Premiere Razzia Nabil Ayouch, France World Premiere The Seen and Unseen Kamila Andini, Indonesia World Premiere Platform Closing Film . Sweet Country Warwick Thornton, Australia North American Premiere What Will People Say (Hva vil folk si) Iram Haq, Norway/Germany/Sweden World Premiere
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San Sebastian Film Festival Reveals First Titles in Pearls and Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Lineup
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The Square by Ruben Östlund[/caption]
The Pearls and Zabaltegi-Tabakalera sections of the 2017 San Sebastian Film Festival will feature some of the year’s most important films. The Square, winner of the Golden Palm at the last Cannes Film Festival, will open the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section.
The Hungarian filmmaker Ilkidó Enyedi, winner of the Golden Bear with the fable Teströl és lékekröl / On Body and Soul, will compete for the City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award against the Jury Prize in Cannes, Nelyubov / Loveless, by Russian moviemaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (Leviafan / Leviathan) and the Jury Grand Prix at the French festival, 120 battements par minute (120 BMP) / 120 Beats Per Minute by Robin Campillo, screenwriter of Foxfire, which competed in San Sebastian’s Official Selection in 2012.
Also competing for the award decided by the audience are Wonderstruck, the adaptation of a story by Brian Selznick which competed at Cannes, in which Todd Haynes (Carol) directs Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams and child actors Oakes Fegley and Millicent Simmonds, and two films premiered at Sundance: The Big Sick, third film by Michael Showalter, about an interracial couple forced to deal with their cultural differences, and Call Me By Your Name by Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash), screened at the Berlinale following its stop at the North American Festival. Loving Pablo will close the Pearls section.
Other titles in the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section include Philippe Garrel with L’amant d’un jour / Lover for a Day; and Tesnota / Closeness, the debut by Kantemir Balagov, presented in Un Certain Regard. Saura(s), helmed by Félix Viscarret, a film from the Cineastas contados series; the directorial debut of Gustavo Salmerón, Muchos hijos, un mono y un castillo / Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle, winner of Best Documentary at Karlovy Vary; the documentary No intenso agora / In the Intense Now, by the Brazilian filmmaker João Moreira Salles, which competed at Berlin; and the world premiere of Movistar+ series Vergüenza, written and helmed by Juan Cavestany and Álvaro Fernández Armero. This is the first time a television series will have competed for the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award.
The remaining titles making up both sections will be announced in the coming weeks.
ZABALTEGI-TABAKALERA (PREVIEW)
THE SQUARE RUBEN ÖSTLUND (SWEDEN) Cast: Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Christopher Læssø OPENING NIGHT FILM Christian is a divorced father devoted to spending time with his two daughters. He’s a curator at a contemporary art museum, and the kind of guy who drives and electric car and supports the big humanitarian causes. He’s currently working on his next show, entitled The Square, an installation inviting passers-by to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes it’s hard to live up to your own ideals: Christian’s meltdown in response to the theft of his mobile phone doesn’t exactly leave him in the best light… Meanwhile, the museum’s PR agency has created an unexpected campaign for The Square. The response is overblown and propels Christian headlong into an existential crisis. Golden Palm at Cannes. L’AMANT D’UN JOUR / LOVER FOR A DAY PHILIPPE GARREL (FRANCE) Cast: Éric Caravaca, Esther Garrel A 23 year-old comes home after the breakdown of a relationship to find that a woman the same age as herself now features in her father’s life. MUCHOS HIJOS, UN MONO Y UN CASTILLO (LOTS OF KIDS, A MONKEY AND A CASTLE.) GUSTAVO SALMERÓN (SPAIN) Cast: Julia Salmerón, Antonio García Cabanes, Gustavo Salmerón, Nacho Salmerón, Ramón García Salmerón, David García Salmerón, Paloma García Cabanes This is the story about Julita, a matriarch whose three childhood wishes have been granted: lots of kids, a monkey, and a Spanish castle. At her 81 years old, one of her children needs to find the vertebra of his murdered great-grandmother, lost among the exorbitant amount of weird objects she has hoarded throughout her life, revealing a very picturesque family history. This unique old lady is about to find the meaning of life. Winner of the Award to the Best Documentary at Karlovy Vary. NO INTENSO AGORA / IN THE INTENSE NOW JOÃO MOREIRA SALLES (BRAZIL) Made following the discovery of amateur footage shot in China in 1966 during the first and most radical stage of the Cultural Revolution, No Intenso Agora / In the Intense Now speaks to the fleeting nature of moments of great intensity. Scenes of China are set alongside archival images of the events of 1968 in France, Czechoslovakia, and, to a lesser extent, Brazil. In keeping with the tradition of the film-essay, they serve to investigate how the people who took part in those events continued onward after passions had cooled. The footage, all of it archival, not only reveals the state of mind of those filmed – joy, enchantment, fear, disappointment, dismay – but also sheds light on the relationship between a document and its political context. What can one say of Paris, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, or Beijing by looking at the images of the period? Why did each of these cities produce a specific sort of record? SAURA(S) FÉLIX VISCARRET (SPAIN) Félix Viscarret is a young director. Carlos Saura is a living legend. United by the Cineastas contados initiative tribute to the genius from Aragon, Viscarret devises a plan for his personal portrayal of the veteran filmmaker. It’s brilliant. It will show the most intimate Saura through conversations between the master and his 7 children. All accept. Saura isn’t fond of talking about the past. Viscarret insists. Saura likes painting. And photography. TESNOTA / CLOSENESS KANTEMIR BALAGOV (RUSSIA) Cast: Darya Zhovner, Olga Dragunova, Artem Tsypin, Nazir Zhukov, Veniamin Kats 1998, Nalchik. A Jewish family is in a dangerous situation: a young man and his fiancée are kidnapped one night and the next morning his family receives a ransom note. The amount demanded is so high that the family is forced to sell its small business and seek help from the local community. Un Certain Regard FIPRESCI Prize. VERGÜENZA JUAN CAVESTANY, ÁLVARO FERNÁNDEZ ARMERO (SPAIN) Cast: Javier Gutiérrez, Malena Alterio, Vito Sanz Jesús and Nuria have a problem: no matter what they do, they’re always the laughing stock of their family and friends, stupidly making a fool of themselves. He is a wedding and christening photographer, but believes he has a calling to show his true talent in ‘artistic’ photography. She believes that after her temporary crises she’ll start to have a more interesting life. Together they must decide whether being so pathetic is just a passing virus or if they actually have a chronic disease. Vergüenza is a ten chapter television series.PERLAS (PREVIEW)
LOVING PABLO FERNANDO LEÓN DE ARANOA (SPAIN – BULGARIA) Cast: Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz CLOSING NIGHT FILM Not in competition The true story of the notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who killed thousands, made billions and struck up an unlikely love affair with his polar opposite, a glamorous television host named Virginia Vallejo. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME LUCA GUADAGNINO (ITALY – FRANCE) Cast: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel North of Italy, Summer 1983. Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old American/French/Italian boy spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa lazily transcribing music and flirting with his friend Marzia. One day Oliver, an American 24-year-old, arrives to help Elio’s father in his academic activities while working on his doctorate on Heraclitus for a few weeks. Elio and Oliver will discover the beauty of desire slowly unfolding in the course of this unique summer. 120 BATTEMENTS PAR MINUTE (120 BPM) / 120 BEATS PER MINUTE ROBIN CAMPILLO (FRANCE) Cast: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel, Yves Heck, Emmanuel Ménard, Antoine Reinartz, François Rabette… Paris, in the early 1990s. A group of young activists multiply their actions to raise awareness of AIDS. Nathan, a newcomer to the group, has his world shaken up by the radical stance and energy of Sean, who throws the last of his strength into the struggle. Jury Grand Prix at Cannes. NELYUBOV / LOVELESS ANDREY ZVYAGINTSEV (RUSSIA – FRANCE – BELGIUM – GERMANY) Cast: Maryana Spivak, Alexey Rozin, Matvey Novikov A couple entangled in a messy divorce have no option but to join forces and search for their son when he disappears during one of their arguments. Jury Prize in Cannes. TESTRÖL ÉS LÉLEKRÖL / ON BODY AND SOUL ILDIKÓ ENYEDI (HUNGARY) Cast: Géza Morcsányi , Alexandra Borbély, Ervin Nagy, Pál Mácsai Two timid people make the chance discovery that they have the same dream every night. Confused and frightened by the revelation, they decide to accept the strange coincidence and set about recreating the experience in real life. A complicated task; the more they try, the further away their goal appears to be. In spite of it all, their clumsy attempts will topple their personal interior barriers and end up uniting them to one another. Golden Bear at Berlin. THE BIG SICK MICHAEL SHOWALTER (USA) Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano The Big Sick tells the real-life story of Kumail and Emily, a couple who meet after one of his comedy sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, despite their cultural differences. The situation complicates everyone’s lives given the expectations harboured by Kumail’s traditional Muslim parents. And to make matters worse, Emily is beset with a mysterious illness… SXSW Audience Award. WONDERSTRUCK TODD HAYNES (USA) Cast: Oakes Fegley, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Millicent Simmonds Ben and Rose are children from two different eras who secretly wish that their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he’s never known, while Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue and Rose reads an enticing headline, they both set out on epic quests to find what they’re missing.
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FIlmmakers: Forbes Announces Second Under 30 Short Film Festival
Forbes is now accepting submissions from filmmakers for its second annual Under 30 Short Film Festival, a short film competition for filmmakers, under the age of 30, who are innovating and using a variety of techniques to accomplish a range of missions, from entertainment to advocacy. Submissions will be accepted beginning today through August 18, 2017.
The next generation of great moviemakers will compete for the opportunity to show their short films at the 2017 Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston, October 1 to 4, 2017. The summit is expected to bring together more than 6,000 of the world’s top entrepreneurs and game changers who are leading the way in industries such as media, technology, entertainment, social good and more.
“Film is a notoriously tough industry to break into,” said Forbes’ media and entertainment reporter Madeline Berg. “But there are so many young filmmakers creating impressive and important—or just plain entertaining—content. This is our opportunity to highlight some of those.”
Filmmakers can choose to submit their work in one of four categories: Animated, Live-Action/Theatrical, Documentary and Shot on Cellphone. Judges include industry insiders, as well as Forbes’ media and entertainment reporter Madeline Berg and associate editor Natalie Robehmed.
The judges will select one winner from each of the four categories. These winners will be announced on September 15. All four category winners will receive complimentary attendance to the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston, which will feature 200 world-class speakers and include keynote addresses, panels, pitch competitions, a music festival, a food festival and opportunities to meet and network with mentors from the entertainment world and beyond. At the summit, the four winning films will be shown and the audience will vote for the grand prize winner.
Last year’s Forbes Under 30 Short Film Festival received over 1,500 submissions, with live-action/theatrical short film , taking the grand prize. The animated Hum by Thomast Teller, the documentary Where Are We Now by Lucie Rachel and The Garbage, a cellphone filmed work by Kushtrim Aslanni, took the category prizes.
How to Apply for the 2017 Forbes Under 30 Short Film Festival Competition:
Filmmakers must be under 30 years of age at the time of the film festival (October 1, 2017) and will be required to provide proof of age with their submissions. All submissions must be under 10 minutes long, completed in 2016 or 2017, created by a filmmaker based in the United States and have subtitles if not in English. Please specify the category the film falls into at the time of submission. Films can be submitted through online or sent to Madeline Berg and Natalie Robehmed at Forbes Media, 499 Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07310. Image via Forbes