ma ma[/caption]
Ma ma is set in Madrid, Spain, and stars Academy Award®-winning actress Penelope Cruz as Magda, a woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer who’s also going through a separation from her self-centered husband Raul (Alex Brendemuhl), who left her for one of his students.
It’s a few of several devastating hardships Magda endures in Spanish director Julio Medem’s film, written and produced by himself, Cruz and Alvaro Longoria.
After a few months of ignoring a lump on her right breast, Magda decides to get it checked out. Her doctor, Julian (Asier Etxeandia), biopsies the lump for cancer.
Shortly afterwards, much to her dismay, he delivers the terrible news that she indeed has cancer, and will require grueling chemotherapy sessions to shrink the nodules before having a mastectomy.
Each chemo session is accompanied by a glaring white background that distracts the viewer more than adding anything to the scenes. But the wonderful cinematography and camera work pull you back in.
Looking to for a bit of escapism, Magda attends her son Dani’s (Teo Planell) football game, where she meets a man, Arturo (Luis Tosar), a talent scout for the famed football (soccer) team, Real Madrid.
Arturo is interested in recruiting her son, a standout player on his youth squad, in Real Madrid’s junior program, which helps develop young talent into future professionals.
While there, Arturo receives unimaginable news of his own, that there has been a car accident, which has claimed the life of his daughter, and left his wife in a comma.
Magda accompanies Arturo to the hospital, subsequently visiting him while undergoing her own chemo treatments, which she hasn’t divulge to anyone at the time.
However, she eventually tells Arturo, who winds up losing his wife, and the two become each other’s support system. As she recovers from her operation, and is in the clear for the time being, they predictably fall in love, and form the perfect family unit.
But cruel misfortune steps in again on the hard-luck Magda, as Dr. Julian, who belts out beautiful, romantic songs in a bedside attempt to soothed her, informs his patient that the cancer has spread to her other breast, and metastasized to wall of her lungs. Subsequently, the doctor delivers a gut-wrenching prognosis of only six months to live.
What follows is an over-the-top attempt of series of events intent on extracting more tears from movie-goers, with the final scene cumulating in another foreseeable outcome.
Overall, though, ‘Ma ma’ is worth seeing despite its campy, overdramatic feel—which is only exaggerated by a few scenes in which beating hearts are splashed across the screen for shameless, emotional effects—because of its positive message of strength, courage, and hope amidst tragedy.
‘Ma ma’ opens in New York City on May 20th, and in Los Angeles and Miami on May 27th, with national expansion to follow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxtB15K-nN4VIMOOZ
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Film Review: ma ma Starring Penlope Cruz
[caption id="attachment_13820" align="alignnone" width="1000"] ma ma[/caption]
Ma ma is set in Madrid, Spain, and stars Academy Award®-winning actress Penelope Cruz as Magda, a woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer who’s also going through a separation from her self-centered husband Raul (Alex Brendemuhl), who left her for one of his students.
It’s a few of several devastating hardships Magda endures in Spanish director Julio Medem’s film, written and produced by himself, Cruz and Alvaro Longoria.
After a few months of ignoring a lump on her right breast, Magda decides to get it checked out. Her doctor, Julian (Asier Etxeandia), biopsies the lump for cancer.
Shortly afterwards, much to her dismay, he delivers the terrible news that she indeed has cancer, and will require grueling chemotherapy sessions to shrink the nodules before having a mastectomy.
Each chemo session is accompanied by a glaring white background that distracts the viewer more than adding anything to the scenes. But the wonderful cinematography and camera work pull you back in.
Looking to for a bit of escapism, Magda attends her son Dani’s (Teo Planell) football game, where she meets a man, Arturo (Luis Tosar), a talent scout for the famed football (soccer) team, Real Madrid.
Arturo is interested in recruiting her son, a standout player on his youth squad, in Real Madrid’s junior program, which helps develop young talent into future professionals.
While there, Arturo receives unimaginable news of his own, that there has been a car accident, which has claimed the life of his daughter, and left his wife in a comma.
Magda accompanies Arturo to the hospital, subsequently visiting him while undergoing her own chemo treatments, which she hasn’t divulge to anyone at the time.
However, she eventually tells Arturo, who winds up losing his wife, and the two become each other’s support system. As she recovers from her operation, and is in the clear for the time being, they predictably fall in love, and form the perfect family unit.
But cruel misfortune steps in again on the hard-luck Magda, as Dr. Julian, who belts out beautiful, romantic songs in a bedside attempt to soothed her, informs his patient that the cancer has spread to her other breast, and metastasized to wall of her lungs. Subsequently, the doctor delivers a gut-wrenching prognosis of only six months to live.
What follows is an over-the-top attempt of series of events intent on extracting more tears from movie-goers, with the final scene cumulating in another foreseeable outcome.
Overall, though, ‘Ma ma’ is worth seeing despite its campy, overdramatic feel—which is only exaggerated by a few scenes in which beating hearts are splashed across the screen for shameless, emotional effects—because of its positive message of strength, courage, and hope amidst tragedy.
‘Ma ma’ opens in New York City on May 20th, and in Los Angeles and Miami on May 27th, with national expansion to follow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxtB15K-nN4
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Alamo Drafthouse Greets Brooklyn with FREE Outdoor Film Screenings
[caption id="attachment_13970" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
BEST IN SHOW[/caption]
With its Downtown Brooklyn theater set to open later this summer, the Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn will offer a taste of its movie programming with three free admission outdoor screenings at Fort Greene Park.
Featuring three revered contemporary classics, these outdoor shows are a chance for Alamo to introduce itself and connect with New York’s movie-lovers. Each screening will take place at sundown and will be complimented by themed festivities before the show.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to finally share movies with the community before our venue opens. With the Brooklyn sky as our roof, these Fort Greene Park screenings represent the perfect opportunity to meet our new neighbors and introduce them to Alamo Drafthouse,” says NY Creative Manager/Programmer Cristina Cacioppo.
One-of-a-kind film experiences have long been a hallmark of Alamo Drafthouse’s unique approach to programming: for over fifteen years the company has produced screenings of iconic films in iconic locations across the globe. Such high profile signature events have included Sergio Leone’s FISTFUL OF DOLLARS in Spain, ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ on Alcatraz Island, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND at the foot of Devil’s Tower, and JAWS on the famed sandy beaches of Martha’s Vineyard.
“Alamo Drafthouse primarily operates in a theater environment but we’re not limited to that experience,” says Henri Mazza, VP of Special Events. “We exist to create unique and memorable cinematic experiences for audiences everywhere, whether it’s in a theater, on a lake, or in a beautiful park in the heart of Brooklyn. These screenings are a sample of what’s in store for the coming years.”
May 27 – Bring Your Own Dog Screening of BEST IN SHOW
Enjoy Christopher Guest’s uproarious mockumentary along with your pooch! Dog owners are welcome to bring their pets and will have the chance to parade them before the audience in a pre-movie dog show.
June 3 – Quote-Along®: LABYRINTH
Alamo’s beloved version of LABYRINTH allows the audience to sing-along with the David Bowie tunes and quote the best lines of the movie. Free souvenir props will also be available for the first to arrive at the park!
June 10 – FINDING NEMO
One week before the release of FINDING DORY, kids big and small can revisit Pixar’s original aquatic adventure with the Tank Gang. Costumes are encouraged, and surprises are in store!
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3 Films To Screen as Centerpiece Program of 2016 Greenwich International Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_11531" align="aligncenter" width="1500"]
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING[/caption]
The Greenwich International Film Festival set to run June 9 to 12, will screen Rob Burnett’s THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING, Sophie Goodhart’s MY BLIND BROTHER and Kim Snyder’s NEWTOWN as part of its Centerpiece program.
“We are proud to be featuring these three wonderful films in the centerpiece section of our second edition,” said Colleen deVeer, Founder and Director of Programming for GIFF. “We feel these stories will inspire our audience, while also highlighting social impact themes, an important part of our festival’s mission.”
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING tells the story of an unlikely pair who, through their struggles, come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship. The film will screen on Saturday, June 11th at The Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center and will be followed by a Q&A with Director Rob Burnett and star Craig Roberts, moderated by actor/comedian Tom Cavanagh (Ed, Scrubs). “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Greenwich Film Festival,” said Burnett. “Greenwich has been my home for 15 years and it’s special to be able to show the film surrounded by friends and family.”
[caption id="attachment_13908" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
MY BLIND BROTHER[/caption]
Stars Nick Kroll and Charlie Hewson will be joined by Screenwriter and Director Sophie Goodhart on Saturday, June 11th for a screening of their film MY BLIND BROTHER at Bow Tie Cinemas and will be followed by a post screening Q&A. In the film, love for the same woman creates a rift between an over-achieving blind athlete and his resentful brother. “I couldn’t be more excited to be included in this year’s Greenwich International Film Festival! It’s thrilling to be part of this new festival’s journey,” said Goodhart.
[caption id="attachment_13909" align="aligncenter" width="1320"]
NEWTOWN[/caption]
As part of GIFF’s commitment to community engagement, the festival will be screening NEWTOWN, a documentary about the victims and families of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. NEWTOWN will screen on Saturday, June 11th at Bow Tie Cinemas. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director Kim Snyder, Producer Maria Cuomo Cole, and several of the family members profiled in the film along with first responders, doctors, educators, and community heroes. “NEWTOWN is a portrait of community resilience and hope in the aftermath of heartbreaking tragedy. We thank the families and survivors in our film for their courage, grace and trust in sharing their most personal stories, and we thank the Greenwich International Film Festival for allowing us to share these stories with the local community.”
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Robert De Niro, TANGERINE, Honored at 27th GLAAD Media Awards
Robert De Niro, the film TANGERINE, were among the best in film, television, and journalism honored at the 27th GLAAD Media Awards hosted by Laverne Cox, at the Waldorf Astoria New York on Saturday.
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD’s work to amplify stories from the LGBT community and issues that build support for acceptance.
At the ceremony, Academy Award-winning actress and surprise guest Jennifer Lawrence presented Robert De Niro with GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award, which is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5zm67vgX1w
In his acceptance speech, De Niro celebrated the Supreme Court’s landmark decision for marriage equality, while cautioning to “also remember oppressive laws like the ones in North Carolina that let us know the struggle continues and challenges us to be vigilant and aggressive in protecting all our rights.” De Niro continued, “Thank you for this honor, I’m proud to stand with you, I’m GLAAD.”
Tangerine (Magnolia Pictures) was given the award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSwWTb88ZU
The complete list of GLAAD Media Award recipients announced Saturday in New York.
Excellence in Media Award: Robert De Niro (presented by Jennifer Lawrence)
Ally Award: Mariah Carey (presented by Lee Daniels)
Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: “Bruce Jenner: The Interview” 20/20 (ABC) [accepted by: Diane Sawyer, Caitlyn Jenner, and David Sloan, senior executive producer]
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Interview with Jim Obergefell” Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) [accepted by: U.S. Supreme Court plaintiff Jim Obergefell]
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: Cosmopolitan [accepted by: Laura Brounstein, special projects director]
Outstanding Film – Limited Release: Tangerine (Magnolia Pictures)
Outstanding Individual Episode: “The Prince of Nucleotides” Royal Pains (USA Network)
Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia: “Stopping HIV? The Truvada Revolution” Vice Reports (Vice.com)
Outstanding Newspaper Article: “Cold Case: The Murders of Cosby and Jackson” by Dianna Wray (Houston Press)
Outstanding Magazine Article: “Behind Brazil’s Gay Pride Parades, a Struggle with Homophobic Violence” by Oscar Lopez (Newsweek)
Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: “This Is What It’s Like To Be An LGBT Syrian Fleeing For Your Life” by J. Lester Feder (Buzzfeed.com)
SPANISH-LANGUAGE NOMINEES
Outstanding Daytime Program Episode: “¿El marido de mi padre o yo?” Caso Cerrado (Telemundo)
Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: TIE: “Amor que rompe barreras” Un Nuevo Día (Telemundo) and “En cuerpo ajeno” Aquí y Ahora (Univision)
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Víctimas de abusos” Noticiero Univision (Univision)
Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia: “Campeones de la igualdad” (Univision.com)
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Lineup Unveiled for 10th Anniversary of Los Angeles Greek Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_13899" align="aligncenter" width="1300"]
Worlds Apart[/caption]
The 2016 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, celebrating its tenth anniversary, will run June 1 to 5, 2016 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
This year’s festival will showcase more films, Q&A’s and festivities than ever before including a collaboration with Athens International CulinaryFilm Festival (AICFF) and a Gastronomical Sidebar complete with cuisine themed entertainment and top chef cooking demonstration with tasting.
The 2016 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival will kick off with the North American premiere of Tassos Boulmetis’ bittersweet comedy “Mythopathy “(Notias) on Wednesday, June 1. The story is set during the 1970s military junta in Greece and follows a young boy, Stavros, as he copes with the ever changing social and political climate by reinventing established Greek myths and creating his own versions. This is the third feature from the award-winning “Touch of Spice” director. “Mythopathy” stars Hellenic Academy awardwinners Themis Panou (“Miss Violence”), Maria Kallimani (“Sto Spiti”) and introduces Giannis Niaros in his first feature starring role among others. Tasos Boulmetis, a former UCLA assistant professor and film school Alum, will be in attendance
The Closing Night film will be Christopher Papakaliatis’ “Worlds Apart” in its debut outside of Greece. The film stars Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons. “Worlds Apart” is the highest grossing Greek film since 2009, notably surpassing box office numbers in Greece for the long-awaited 2015 blockbusters “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Spectre”. “Worlds Apart” fosters three separate narratives each following a love story between a foreigner and a Greek. Each story represents a different generation falling in love during a time of socioeconomic turmoil that dominates Southern Europe as a whole, only to connect with a single story in the end. Christopher Papakaliatis and J.K. Simmons will be present for their film’s North American premiere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=94D1XC83i3o
Following the screening is the star-studded Orpheus Awards Ceremony where J.K. Simmons will receive the 2016 Orpheus at the ceremony hosted by “American Beauty” star Mena Suvari.
Thursday, June 2 LAGFF will have a special tribute to iconic Greek director Alexis Damianos with a screening of the all-time favorite masterpiece “Evdokia” in its original 35mm format. First released in 1971, this Greek/UK co-production is a love story between a prostitute (Evdokia) and a sergeant (Yorgos). The film features an original Manos Loizos’ Rembetico musical piece and stars the late Maria Vassilou (Chrysothemis) and Chris Zorbas (Silhouettes). In 2002, the Greek Film Critics Association voted Evdokia as one the 5 best Greek films of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRedRJeihbw
Thursday also offers writer/director Athina Rachel Tsangari’s critically acclaimed comedy “Chevalier”. Tsangari, who is attending this year’s festival, will also be conducting a Directing Master Class on Saturday, June 4 which is open to the public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b10Bc8mVbHo
There is something for every Cinephile on Friday, June 3 when the Festival screens 15 films beginning at 4:00 P.M. The TGIF program includes a searing look at relationships with Panos Karkanevatos’ “Riverbanks” (Ohthes) and Dimitri Anthanitis’ drama “Invisible”. Representative of Friday’s documentary offerings is Loukas Stamellos’ “Golden Dawn: A Personal Affair” about the Greek neo-Nazi party “Golden Dawn” and Vasilis Katsoupis’ “My Friend Larry Gus” about the Milan, Italy-based electronic artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9_8H33wloc
Preceding all narrative and documentary films is a litany of the best creative shorts of 2015 and 2016. Highlights include Haris Pantelidakis comedy “Pacino’s Way”, Nikos Tsemberopoulos’, “Simon Says” winner of the Grand Prize of the Competition Section Greek Film Short Film of the 21st Athens International Film Festival ‘Opening Nights’,Christos Liakouris’ family drama and festival circuit favorite “Pet” and “Stutterer” Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage’s 2016 Oscar Winner for Short Film (Live Action). Michael Paledimos, “Stutterer’s” Producer will be in attendance for the film with Q&A to follow.
On Thursday June 2 and Saturday, June 4, LAGFF proudly hosts the films of the Athens International Culinary Film Festival (AICFF.ORG). The Gastronomical sidebar will offer savory treats like the moving yet joyful coming of age documentary from director Angelos Abatzoglou’s “Mustafa’s Sweet Dreams”; Taso Boulmetis award-winning relationship drama “A Touch of Spice” starring George Corraface as a forty-year-old chef who returns to Istanbul after years of exile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7nIP0wm6_4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DioZyZQUDTY
World-renowned award-winning chef, Doxis Bekris will be on hand to offer up a tantalizing cooking demonstration in the Egyptian courtyard with tastes of Greek cuisine for all in attendance.
New this year, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Professor of Classics Katerina Zacharia instituted an Interdisciplinary Core course on “Representations of Greece: Ancient and Modern” with embedded student internships at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. The 16 LMU-LAGFF interns and Prof. Zacharia assisted in the selection of this year’s program. LAGFF designated an LMU Special Selection slot at 10 pm on Saturday, June 4th 2016, during which the LAGFF-LMU interns selected Angelos Frantzis modern fantasy drama “Symptom” and the short “Pet” by Christos Liakouris for their screening.
For the first time in Festival history, LAGFF is opening its screenings free of charge to all college students with a valid student ID. Discounted tickets to the Opening and Closing Night Galas for eligible students will also be offered.
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School of Visual Arts Announces Winners of Dusty Film & Animation Festival
Fourteen projects were chosen from more than 100 filmmakers and animators as award winners of the School of Visual Arts 2016 Dusty Film & Animation Festival.
Reeves Lehmann, chair of the BFA Film and BFA Animation programs at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), and Annie Flocco, producer and director of the festival, were among the many industry notables to proudly announce the festival’s winning student films and animations at the SVA Theatre in New York City.
Highlighting the work of more than 100 filmmakers and animators graduating from the BFA Film and BFA Animation departments in 2016, the 2016 Dusty Film & Animation Festival Award Winners were:
For Film:
Outstanding Film: Winner: Aurora Alänge, Syskon
Outstanding Achievement in Directing: Winner: Kishan Savjani, Rubaroo
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Winner: Anthony Carella, Syskon
Outstanding Achievement in Editing: Winners: Erin DeWitt and Tobias Belliard, Apocalypse Mambo
Outstanding Documentary: Winner: Juana Hodari, Tomasa
Gotham Sound Grant: Recipient: Ashley Avila
New York Women in Film & Television Award: Maya Cozier
IFP Award: Recipients: Enrico Granato and Luigi Rossi,
Human Spirit Award: Recipient: Philippa Fort, Pippa
For Animation:
Outstanding Animated Film: Winners: Hsuan Ho and Silver Paul, Mausie and The Order of the Golden Sun
Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation: Winner: Montana Hall, Monster
Outstanding Achievement in Animation Production Design: Winner: Ivan Viaranchyk, Night Shadows
Special Jury Award for Comedy in Animation: Winner:Kristina Martin, Sprigs and Parsley in: Coffee Table
For Screenwriting:
Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting: Winner: Evan DeCarlo, Marry Me on Mulberry Mountain
“We are excited to celebrate the successes of our students with many guests from the worlds of film and animation,” said Reeves Lehmann. Annie Flocco added, “We’d also like to extend a big thank you to our many generous sponsors and supporters, some of whom have been with us for many years, and to the spectacular SVA Theatre crew for collaborating on another year of stellar events.”
Hosted by media personality Valerie Smaldone, the 27th Dusty presenters included notables from the world of film, television and animation, including Josh Singer, Trudie Styler, Mark Osborne, Chris Newman, Laurens Grant, Ti West, Michael Simmonds, Howard Beckerman, Tom Sito, Mark Ulano, Aaron Yanes and Neil Burger.
image via Facebook
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South Korean Documentary MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER Opens in June
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MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER[/caption]
The award winning South Korean documentary film MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER directed by Moyoung Jin will open in theaters in New York on Friday, June 17 and in Los Angeles on Friday, June 24 with a national release to follow.
A blockbuster in its native Korea, where it would go on to become the country’s biggest independent film of all time, MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER presents an unforgettable story of true love that transcends both generations and cultures.
“100-year old Lovebirds” Byong-man Jo and Gye-yeul Kang, have been inseparable companions for the past 76 years. Living in their small home by the river, they wear traditional Korean clothes, go shopping at the local market, have picnics with neighbors, and enjoy dance parties. Every night they go to sleep holding each other’s hands. Observing this fragile couple for 15 months, director Mo-Young Jin acts as a fly-on-the-wall, capturing their twilight days with tender moments that reveal simple acts of affection – from a good-natured leaf fight to a gentle caress of the cheek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsf1DNxSciY
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HELL OR HIGH WATER Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine Sets August Release Date
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HELL OR HIGH WATER[/caption]
The action drama HELL OR HIGH WATER starring Academy Award®-winner Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine, will open in limited release on August 12, followed by nationwide release on August 19, after World Premiering at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Hell Or High Water is directed by David Mackenzie (“Young Adam,” “Starred Up”) and in addition to Bridges (“Crazy Heart,” “True Grit”), and Pine (“Star Trek,” “Into The Woods”), also stars Ben Foster (“3:10 To Yuma,” “The Messenger”) and Gil Birmingham (“The Lone Ranger,” “Twilight”).
A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Chris Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Ben Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger — come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land. The hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet. Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a relentless, foul-mouthed Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement. As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their plan, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the last honest law man and a pair of brothers with nothing to live for except family collide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQoqsKoJVDw
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Yvonne Paulin’s THE TRAIL Wins Seattle Intl Film Festival Screenplay Competition
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Seattle International Film Festival[/caption]
THE TRAIL by Yvonne Paulin is the Grand Prize winner of the Seattle International Film Festival first-ever Catalyst Screenplay Competition.
THE TRAIL is described as a riveting dramatic thriller set in the snow-covered forests of Washington state that follows a young mother as she fights for her life while unraveling the mystery of her missing daughter.
THE TRAIL will receive a live read-through at the SIFF Film Center on Saturday, June 11 during SIFF’s Catalyst Weekend, taking place June 9 to 12, 2016, with screenwriter Yvonne Paulin expected in attendance as a distinguished guest of the Festival.
The SIFF Catalyst Screenplay Competition connects strong scripts with independent directors and producers, all alumni of SIFF’s Catalyst program. It emphasizes the importance of the screenwriter in the creative process and closes the loop of mentorship and collaboration by drawing on industry professionals who have participated in and graduated from Catalyst over its five years of existence.
Each screenplay submitted to the SIFF Catalyst Screenplay Competition receives one page of written feedback from SIFF’s team of trained screenplay readers. Semi-finalist scripts are determined with the use of a 13-category, 10-point rating system. This year, the ten semi-finalist scripts were evaluated by screenwriter George Wing (50 FIRST DATES), who selected the Grand Prize winner, three finalists, and six semi-finalists, each of whom will receive a live reading in front of an audience as part of SIFF’s monthly Catalyst programming over the coming year.
Grand Prize Winner
THE TRAIL by Yvonne Paulin
Finalists
DIETRICH DANZIG by John Pisano-Thomsen
THE FLID SHOW by Richard Willett
THE ROUSTIE by Gina B. LaLonde
Semi-Finalists
LOCK EYES by Bodine Boling
PRIVATE PARTS by Elizabeth Giorgi
RED IVORY by Noah Foster-Koth
SAVING SHENANDOAH by Alessandra Bautze
SOME KIND OF MIRACLE by Arun Narayanan
SUBJECT A by Shannon Bentley
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French Actor Jean-Pierre Léaud to Receive Honorary Palme d’or at Cannes Film Festival
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Jean-Pierre Léaud[/caption]
French actor/comedian Jean-Pierre Léaud will receive the honorary Palme d’or at the upcoming 69th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
Jean-Pierre Léaud is part of the Cannes legend. He was discovered by François Truffaut who made him the young hero of his first film, Les 400 Coups (The 400 Blows), and made his first appearance on the Croisette in 1959 as an extrovert, unruly 14-year-old. His spontaneity was representative of the wind of freedom that the French New Wave brought to cinema. Antoine Doinel and François Truffaut continued to support him with Antoine et Colette (Antoine and Colette) (1962), Baisers volés (Stolen Kisses) (1968), Domicile conjugal (Bed and Board) (1970) and L’Amour en fuite (Love on the Run) (1979).
As early as 1965, he began what was to be a long partnership with Jean-Luc Godard; Masculin féminin (1966) and La Chinoise (1967) are considered to be committed and forward-thinking highlights of their collaboration. Fascinated by cinematographic language, Jean-Pierre Léaud was even assistant director for several films by Godard (Pierrot le fou (Crazy Pete), Alphaville) and Truffaut (La Peau douce) (The Soft Skin). He can also be found in films by Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango in Paris) or Jacques Rivette (Out 1). In La Maman et la Putain (The Mother and the Whore) (1973), his offbeat acting, between poetry and flippancy, was offered an unequalled setting and consecrated him once and for all. The film by Jean Eustache was emblematic for a whole generation and received the Jury’s Special Grand Prix at the Festival de Cannes before becoming a cult film.
Since then, the passionate and clumsy, idealistic and disenchanted or enigmatic characters he plays are part of the universes of Aki Kaurismäki (I Hired a Contract Killer), Olivier Assayas (Paris s’éveille (Paris Awakes), Irma Vep), Lucas Belvaux (Pour rire) (Just for Laughs), Philippe Garrel (La Naissance de l’amour) (The Birth of Love), Bertrand Bonello (Le Pornographe) (The Pornographer) or even Tsai Ming-liang (Et là-bas quelle heure est-il ? (What Time is it There?) or Visage (Face), presented in Competition at Cannes in 2009).
Jean-Pierre Léaud is forever daring and surprising, as when embodying the Sun King in the new film by the Spanish director Albert Serra, La Mort de Louis XIV (The Death of Louis XIV), to be shown as a Special Screenings and with both of them present, on Thursday May 19th at 5 pm.
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Edinburgh International Film Festival to Screen 30th Anniversary Screening of 4K Restored HIGHLANDER
[caption id="attachment_13779" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
HIGHLANDER[/caption]
Edinburgh International Film Festival will present a special 30th anniversary screening of the newly 4K restored HIGHLANDER, as part of the celebrations marking EIFF’s 70th edition.
Its interweaving storyline may well flit around from New York of the 1980s to World War II, but it has its dramatic origins in the 16th century Scottish Highlands where Connor MacLeod (Christophe Lambert) first discovers he is not like other men. After doing battle with a rival clan he is stabbed by a strange mercenary fighter called the Kurgan (Clancy Brown), but finds that he cannot die. Befriended and trained by the charismatic Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (Sean Connery), he finds out he is part of a group of immortals who must do battle until there is only one left alive.
Clancy Brown is acclaimed as a cult icon thanks to his mesmeric and maniacal performance as the Kurgan whilst Christophe Lambert is soulful and heroic as Connor, and Sean Connery quite sublime as the foppish yet skillful Ramirez.
Clancy Brown commented: “It’s taken a while, but I swore to myself that I would return again to Scotland after filming 30 years ago where I first learned of Robert the Bruce, James Macpherson, The Fortingall Yew and, most blissfully, single-malt scotch whisky.”
Restored by Deluxe London, the restoration of is based on a 4K scan of the original camera negative, followed by a full 4K workflow, with the approval of director Russell Mulcahy.
Here is the original trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSZ0gxh2ZKQ
