Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, Biutiful), starring Michael Keaton, has been selected as the opening film of the 71st Venice Film Festival (August 27th – September 6th 2014). Along with Michael Keaton the film also stars Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts.
JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN (Jacky au royaume des filles)
The 18th annual Fantasia International Film Festival starting July 17 until August 5, 2014 unveiled the First Wave announcement of several selected highlights for the upcoming festival. Fantasia 2014 will launch with the Canadian premiere of JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN (Jacky au royaume des filles), a sharp political satire from comic book genius Riad Sattouf (LES BEAUX GOSSES) that took the Rotterdam Film Festival by storm.Set in the Democratic Republic of Bubunne where women lead and men are obligated to wear a veil and serve them, this subversive black comedy follows Jacky (Vincent Lacoste), a one-of-a-kind Cinderella, who wishes to marry the powerful and gorgeous Colonel (Charlotte Gainsbourg), daughter of the country’s leader (Anémone). You don’t think when you’re in love, you push on, and sometimes accidentally set off a coup d’état. The provocative and smart JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN couldn’t be more timely, urgent or funny.
WELCOME TO NEW YORK
The Fantasia International Film Festival announced the second wave of films for the 18th edition which runs July 17 to August 5, 2014, in Montreal, Canada. Fantasia will close its 2014 edition with the North American Premiere of Abel Ferrara’s WELCOME TO NEW YORK, the controversial latest from the legendary filmmaker behind such landmarks as BAD LIEUTENANT, KING OF NEW YORK, NEW ROSE HOTEL and the recently re-released MS 45.
WELCOME TO NEW YORK is loosely based on the DSK scandal and stars the iconic Gérard Depardieu in one of the bravest performances of his career. Co-starring is the equally sensational Jacqueline Bisset.
The official poster is unveiled for the 18th annual Fantasia International Film Festival scheduled to be held in Montreal over three weeks, starting July 17 until August 5, 2014. Fantasia’s 2014 poster art was created by award-winning Quebec illustrator Donald Caron.
WHEN ANIMALS DREAM
Fantasia International Film Festival celebrates 18th birthday and will screen over 160 features and something in the neighborhood of 300 shorts. In addition to being stacked with a multitude of breathtaking debut filmmaker discoveries, the 2014 lineup includes new works from such extraordinary talents as Abel Ferrara, Terry Gilliam, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Jim Mickle, Jang Joon-hwan, Gregg Araki, Yoshihiro Nakamura, John McNaughton, Richard Linklater, Hideo Nakata, Eli Roth, Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury, Benny Chan, Ricardo Trogi, Nacho Vigalondo, Bill Plympton, Noboru Iguchi, Hans Petter Moland, Richard Bates Jr, Riad Sattouf, Toshiaki Toyoda, Adrián García Bogliano, Takashi Miike, Mike Cahill, Won Shin-yeon, James Gunn, Nicholas McCarthy, Dante Lam, Steffen Haars, Flip Van der Kuil, Hisayasu Sato, the Mo Brothers, the Spierig Brothers, the Zellner Brothers, and the list goes on.
The Life & Crimes of Doris Payne
The Roxbury International Film Festival (RIFF) which ran from Wednesday, June 25 to Sunday June 29 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, announced the jury and audience award winners.
“This year the Roxbury International Film Festival broke new ground with 30 stellar, high quality films and great audience participation for the record number of filmmakers present to discuss their films,” said festival director Lisa Simmons. “It was so difficult to name the awardees because of the incredible work that was screened over the five days. Congratulations to all the filmmakers!”
The Festival’s top honor The Audience Favorite Award was given to filmmakers Matthew Pond and Kirk Marcolina for their film The Life & Crimes of Doris Payne, a riveting story of an 83 year old African American international jewel thief.
Butter on the Latch
The lineup was announced earlier this week for the 10th annual edition for the Rural Route Festival taking place August 8 to 10 at Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include a 50th anniversary presentation on restored 35mm of Parajanov’s legendary Ukraine/Carpathian-set Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, plus a new DCP Director’s Cut restoration of the British cult classic, Wicker Man, and a rare 16mm print of the great ethnomusicologist, Alan Lomax’s film on British May Day celebrations, Oss Oss Wee Oss.
Check out 10 images from ROCKS IN MY POCKETS, the debut animated feature by Signe Baumane. In the animated gem ROCKS IN MY POCKETS Latvian-born artist and filmmaker Signe Baumane tells five fantastical tales based on the courageous women in her family and their battles with madness.
Zeitgeist Films will release ROCKS IN MY POCKETS, the debut animated feature by Signe Baumane. ROCKS IN MY POCKETS had its World Premiere at the 2014 Karlovy Vary Film Festival where it was the first animated feature ever to take part in the Karlovy Vary International Competition. The film will open at the IFC Center in New York on September 3rd, NOT 5th, and at Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles on September 12. A national release will follow.
In the animated gem ROCKS IN MY POCKETS Latvian-born artist and filmmaker Signe Baumane tells five fantastical tales based on the courageous women in her family and their battles with madness. With boundless imagination and a twisted sense of humor, she has created daring stories of art, romance, marriage, nature, business, and Eastern European upheaval—all in the fight for her own sanity.
Sibulele Gcilitshana, Quanita Adams, Sandile Matsheni & Jenny Stead, performing Truth in Translation
A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake, the documentary debut of television/film/theatre director Michael Lessac, will World Premiere at the Durban International Film Festival taking place in venues in and around Durban, South Africa from July 17 to 27, 2014. The gala screening is on July 20, 2014.
A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake follows a diverse group of South African actors as they tour global war-torn regions to share their country’s experience of reconciliation. As they ignite dialogue among people with raw memories of atrocity, the actors find they must confront once again their homeland’s complicated and violent past – and question their own capacity for healing and forgiveness.
Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Bahman Mohassess in FIFI HOWLS FROM HAPPINESS. Courtesy of Music Box Films
Music Box Films will release FIFI HOWLS FROM HAPPINESS, the award-winning documentary film by Mitra Farahani in the U.S. The film had its World premiere as the Official Selection at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival and screened at numerous film festivals including New York, Telluride, and Seattle. FIFI HOWLS FROM HAPPINESS will open at the Lincoln Plaza in New York on August 8, and at Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles on August 15. A national release will follow.
The Morelia International Film Festival unveiled the poster for the festival’s 12th edition taking place October 17-26, 2014, which celebrates the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.
Throughout the year, FICM will gradually reveals the festival details that will characterize its next edition, beginning with the date of publication of the call, the announcement of the Official Selection, programming and, of course, the release of its image.