• Calling All Foodies. 17 Films to Screen in Culinary Zinema Section of 2015 San Sebastian Festival

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    CAMPO A TRAVÉS. MUGARITZ, INTUYENDO UN CAMINO (OFF-ROAD. MUGARITZ, FEELING A WAY) The 2015 San Sebastian Festival announced the 17 films selected to screen in the program of the “Culinary Zinema” section. The five years of collaboration between the San Sebastian Festival, the Berlin Festival and the Basque Culinary Center have given rise to what the festival describes as one of the most highly appreciated sections by Festival spectators and to a must-attend rendezvous for local gastronomy lovers in an event that combines an internationally prestigious film festival with the culinary wealth of one of the regions with the highest concentration of Michelin stars in the world. This fifth edition increases the selection of titles to 17, consisting of 4 short films and 13 feature films, including 9 in competition and 4 not in competition. The screening of seven of the films will be accompanied by themed dinners by chefs of international prestige. The section opens with the documentary CAMPO A TRAVÉS. MUGARITZ, INTUYENDO UN CAMINO (OFF-ROAD. MUGARITZ, FEELING A WAY) directed by Pep Gatell and closes with COOKING UP A TRIBUTE directed by Luis Gonzalez. FILMS IN COMPETITION Opening Night Film CAMPO A TRAVÉS. MUGARITZ, INTUYENDO UN CAMINO (OFF-ROAD. MUGARITZ, FEELING A WAY) (pictured above)
    PEP GATELL (SPAIN)
    A philosophical and ethological documentary. La Fura dels Baus reveals the motors that drive Mugaritz, the ideas behind its dishes, what it means for the team to achieve excellence and success, the suffering and the enjoyment… at the end of the day, how Mugaritz constantly creates and destroys. It highlights the constant risk, hence its title, but also the knowhow drawn from the effort and work of the many people past, present and future at Mugaritz; a place where culinary purpose has been surpassed by the creative process and its potential variables. Closing Night Film COOKING UP A TRIBUTE LUIS GONZÁLEZ, ANDREA GÓMEZ (SPAIN) COOKING UP A TRIBUTE
    The tale of an unprecedented voyage when one of the best restaurants in the world closes its doors for five weeks to set out and travel. Making its way through four American countries, the team from El Celler de Can Roca pays homage to the cuisines of Mexico, Peru and Colombia, personally reinterpreting their ingredients and traditions.
    ADN DU CEVICHE
    ORLANDO ARRIAGADA (CANADA)
    ADN DU CEVICHE ORLANDO ARRIAGADA
    A gastronomic voyage revealing the cultural and historical wealth of Peru guided by one of its favourite dishes: ceviche!
    THE BIRTH OF SAKÉ
    ERIK SHIRAI (USA – JAPAN)
    THE BIRTH OF SAKÉ ERIK SHIRAI
    A beautiful and immersive portrait of life at the 144-year old Yoshida Brewery, a producer of world class sake. With changing times ahead and new regime led by the 6th generation heir, this is a rarified look at the personal and professional intensity needed to create a revered product and the artisans behind it.
    KAMPAI! FOR THE LOVE OF SAKE
    MIRAI KONISHI (JAPAN)
    In this fascinating look at the universe of sake, three outsiders; a British sake brewer with 25 years experience in Japan, an American journalist who has published multiple guidebooks on sake, and the young president of a centuries -old Japanese sake brewery who wants to make changes to his family legacy, join together to explore the mysterious world of sake illustrating how these unique individuals each have a role to play in the rich, complex, and spectacular world of sake.
    LITTLE FOREST – WINTER/SPRING
    JUNICHI MORI (JAPAN)
    Ichiko lives in Komori, a tiny village in northeastern Japan. She moved out to the city once, but felt lost there and returned. With no supermarkets or convenience stores nearby, living in Komori is like living off the land. She grows her own rice, works the farm, and makes meals out of seasonal foods gathered from the neighboring mountains and fields…
    NOMA, MY PERFECT STORM
    PIERRE DESCHAMPS (UK – DENMARK)
    NOMA, MY PERFECT STORM
    How did Redzepi manage to revolutionize the entire world of gastronomy, inventing the alphabet and vocabulary that would infuse newfound pedigree to Nordic cuisine and establish a new edible world while radically changing the image of the modern chef? His story has the feel of a classic fairy tale: the ugly duckling transformed into a majestic swan, who now reigns over the realm of modern gourmet cuisine. But beneath the polished surface, cracks appear in the form of old wounds.
    SERGIO HERMAN – FUCKING PERFECT
    WILLEMIEK KLUIJFHOUT (NETHERLANDS)
    SERGIO HERMAN - FUCKING PERFECT WILLEMIEK KLUIJFHOUT
    At the height of his culinary career, Master chef Sergio Herman feels he needs to let go of his 3-star restaurant Oud Sluis in order to fulfill his dreams. A revealing documentary about perfection, ambition and sacrifice.
    WANTON MEE
    ERIC KHOO (SINGAPORE)
    After finding out that his home is slated to be demolished, Koh Chun Feng, a middle-aged food critic whose career is starting to wear away at him decides to explore his life and the progress of Singapore through local food. NOT IN COMPETITION
    COCINANDO EN EL FIN DEL MUNDO (COOKING AT THE WORLD’S END)
    ALBERTO BAAMONDE BELLO (SPAIN)
    Galician nouvelle cuisine has the peculiar trait of a love for exploring the past, for recovering the flavours left behind by the modern world, for lending dignity to products considered inferior. The Nove Group is an association of chefs who reach beyond the clichés to promote this cuisine of the future. A realistic portrayal of Galicia taking gastronomy as its vehicle in the endeavour to unravel the delicate balance between tradition and modernity in a land of contrasts.
    CHEF’S TABLE “MASSIMO BOTTURA”
    DAVID GELB (USA)
    A documentary which features six of the world’s most renowned international chefs, and offers viewers the opportunity to go inside the lives and kitchens of these culinary talents.  The chefs featured include Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy), Dan Barber (Blue Hill Restaurant at Stone Barns and in New York City, USA),  Francis Mallmann (El Restaurante Patagonia Sur in Buenos Aires, Argentina), Niki Nakayama (N/Naka Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA, USA), Ben Shewry (Attica Restaurant in Melbourne,  Australia) and Magnus Nilsson (Fäviken in Järpen Sweden).
    SAGARDOA BIDEGILE (CIDER STORIES)
    BEGO ZUBIA GALLASTEGI (SPAIN)
    The Basques have been drinking cider for centuries, but in the Basque Country cider is more than just fermented apple juice. The documentary takes us on a journey, a cultural, gastronomic, scientific and historical adventure. It’s leading character: cider.
    SNACKS, BOCADOS DE UNA REVOLUCIÓN
    VERÓNICA ESCUER, CRISTINA JOLONCH (SPAIN)
    SNACKS, BOCADOS DE UNA REVOLUCIÓN
    A documentary portraying the origin, evolution, current status and future of Spanish gastronomy, conceived as a movement that established creative and conceptual freedom as the ground rule of the game all over the globe. Short films
    BRASA (HOT COAL)
    Short film
    XABI GUTIÉRREZ MÁRQUEZ (SPAIN)
    Four artists from different disciplines: chef Xabier Gutiérrez, painter Juan Vich, musician Ander Fernández and producer Pello Gutiérrez. Each lends a new slant to a concept based on a single premise: charcoal embers. All four set about exposing their individual takes on the materials, colours, sound, sensations.
    COMER CONOCIMIENTO (KNOWLEDGE-EATING)
    Short film
    LUIS GERMANÓ (SPAIN)
    Ferran Adrià dons his chef’s jacket once again, to take up a new challenge: cooking without cooking and reformulating the conference format, turning it into content to explain the creative process that led him to make his restaurant one of the great temples of 20th creativity, a feat that would forever change the history of gastronomy.
    THE PERFECT PROTEIN
    Short film
    CATERINA BARJAU DACHS, RAFAEL JORGE MARTÍNEZ PARDO (SPAIN)
    While the sea is being ransacked as never before, more than 90% of the fish captured is controlled by only 30 countries. The NGO Oceana and the globe’s top chefs suggest ways to curb overfishing that would provide food for much of the world.
    EL SUEÑO DE SONIA (SONIA’S DREAM)
    Short film
    DIEGO SARMIENTO PAGÁN (PERU)
    EL SUEÑO DE SONIA (SONIA'S DREAM)
    Sonia Mamani lives in Capachica, a peninsula of Lake Titicaca (Puno, Peru). She learned to cook at the age of fifteen and has been travelling ever since, teaching women not only how to prepare traditional dishes but also to appreciate their customs and identity.

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  • Throwback Texas Thriller TWO STEP Movie Review

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    TWO STEP, Alex R. Johnson The crime thriller TWO STEP debuted at the 2014 South by Southwest Festival and made the festival rounds throughout 2014. James (Skyy Moore) is a college dropout who lives with his grandmother. When his grandmother passes away, James is on his own in a town where he doesn’t know anyone else. He meets his grandmother’s neighbor Dot (Beth Broderick), an attractive middle-aged dance instructor, and soon develops an attachment to her. Meanwhile, jailhouse lowlife Webb (James Landry Hébert) spends his time in prison calling random numbers from to scam old people out of money. Webb is released from prison into a desperate situation, and he proves how cerebral and destructive he can be when he and James inadvertently cross paths. TWO STEP is a thriller that has some very unique elements – for one, much of the violence – and there is plenty – happens off-screen. This isn’t a movie about physical violence, it is about the mental toll that desperation causes. First time feature writer/director Alex R. Johnson structures the film to hide the violence, particularly in the dangerous, slow-spoken way that Webb carries himself. While Webb is obviously distressed, both James and Dot have their own issues within their lives. Both are somewhat lost causes, and it’s fascinating how the film hints at the nature of their friendship. The final third of TWO STEP almost entirely focuses on Webb, shifting him from the film’s antagonist role to the protagonist’s role. Much of it involves him driving around talking to people and tying up the loose ends in his life, which meanders too much. This pushes both James and Dot’s characters to the fringe of the narrative, and if you are more interested in their predicaments than Webb’s (as I was), you will be disappointed. Because of that, as engaged I was in the setup of the conflict of TWO STEP, I was disappointed in not seeing more of these characters because their personal conflicts remain largely unresolved. TWO STEP is worth a watch, but the ending holds it back from being a unique crime thriller that would set it apart from the dozens of above average crime films that appear at festivals every year. Johnson definitely shows a talented eye for directing – and Hébert plays a great villain – so I’m looking forward to see if Johnson can grow as a filmmaker with his next feature. Film Review Rating 3 out of 5 : See it … It’s Good https://vimeo.com/93220155 TWO STEP Opens July 31st in NY at the Village East Cinema, and August 7th in LA, will be available across major iVOD/cVOD platforms starting on September 1st. Written and Directed by Alex R Johnson Starring Beth Broderick, James Landry Hébert, Skyy Moore, Jason Douglas, Ashley Rae Spillers Written by Christopher McKittrick

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  • 11th Fantastic Fest Reveals First Wave of Programming; Closes with World Premiere of Kurt Russell’s BONE TOMAHAWK

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    BONE TOMAHAWK with Kurt Russell The 11th Fantastic Fest, taking place September 24 – October 1 in Austin, TX at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, revealed the first wave of programming lineup, including the World premiere of BONE TOMAHAWK with Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox as closing night film. Other highlights include a retrospective of Turkish Genre Cinema, and a special Mondo Gallery event and programming series curated by filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn to celebrate the release of his new book Nicolas Winding Refn: The Act of Seeing, which profiles Refn’s collection of vintage exploitation-era American movie posters. “Bringing Kurt Russell back to the Alamo is something we’ve been trying to do for a long time” said Fantastic Fest founder Tim League, “And to do it with BONE TOMAHAWK, a quintessential Fantastic Fest film, means we’re in for one hell of a closer. Huge thanks to Caliber Media for making it all happen.” Turkish genre cinema is at the heart of this year’s Fantastic Fest, inspiring both feature programming and the festival theme. This relatively unknown school of ‘70s renegade filmmaking is explored in REMIX, REMAKE, RIP-OFF, which will be receiving its U.S. Premiere with director Cem Kaya in attendance. As part of the Turkish celebration, Fantastic Fest will be screening three seminal films, DÜNYAYI KURTARAN ADAM (aka THE MAN WHO SAVES THE WORLD, aka TURKISH STAR WARS) , YILMAYAN ŞEYTAN (aka THE DEATHLESS DEVIL) and TARKAN VİKİNG KANI (aka TARKAN VS THE VIKINGS). 11th Fantastic Fest poster In keeping with the Turkish spirit, this year’s poster is comprised exclusively of elements from classic Turkish movie art, of which there will be over 60 original movie posters on display at the festival. Filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn shares his unique collection of rare American exploitation movie posters in the lush new hardcover book Nicolas Winding Refn: The Act of Seeing. Three of the films featured in the book – FAREWELL UNCLE TOM, THE X-RATED SUPERMARKET and MY BODY HUNGERS – were selected by Refn to screen during the opening weekend of Fantastic Fest, followed by a Q&A and book signing. First wave film lineup below: BONE TOMAHAWK United States, 2015 World Premiere, 133 min Director – S. Craig Zahler Kurt Russell stars in this character driven and at times horrific Western about a group of men (including Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox and Richard Jenkins) who set out to rescue a local woman and a young deputy who’ve been kidnapped by a tribe of cannibalistic troglodytes. DARLING United States, 2015 World Premiere, 78 min Director – Mickey Keating A young woman slowly goes crazy after taking a job as the caretaker for an ancient New York home in the new film from writer/director Mickey Keating. THE DEATHLESS DEVIL Turkey, 1972 Repertory Screening, 84 min Director – Yilmaz Atadeniz The mysterious Dr. Satan’s nefarious plans threaten the future of everyone on the planet, and the only men who can stop him are the brilliant Copperhead and his assistant Sherlock Holmes! DER BUNKER Germany, 2015 North American Premiere, 85 min Director – Nikias Chryssos A student rents a room from a family in their converted army bunker, and ends up the tutor to the child and a virtual slave to the parents. FAREWELL UNCLE TOM Italy, 1971 Repertory Screening, 123 min Directors – Gualtiero Jacopetti, Franco Prosperi The first movie based on historical facts about the rise and revolt of slavery in America is one of the most brilliant, misunderstood and reviled of all time. GERMAN ANGST Germany, 2015 US Premiere, 111 min Directors – Jörg Buttgereit, Michal Kosakowski & Andreas Marschall German directors Buttgereit, Kosakowski and Marschall unleash this brutal assault on the senses, a surreal three-part horror anthology touching on love and hate and everything in between. IN SEARCH OF ULTRA SEX France, 2015 North American Premiere, 60 min Directors – Nicolas Charlet and Bruno Lavaine A pandemic infects people everywhere with infinite lust, and the only ones who can save us are a group of astronauts in space, desperately looking for a solution. THE INVITATION United States, 2015 Special Screening, 97 min Director – Karyn Kusama A haunted man attends a dinner party at the house he once called home, and becomes gripped with paranoia that his ex-wife and her new husband are harboring an insidious agenda. LIZA THE FOX FAIRY Hungary, 2015 Regional Premiere, 98 min Director – Károly Ujj-Mészáros Somewhere in 1970s Budapest, nurse Liza dreams of romance. But as all her suitors die in violent and extreme ways, she begins to fear the worst: maybe she is really a fox fairy, doomed to remain alone forever! LOVE AND PEACE Japan, 2015 US Premiere, 117 min Director – Sion Sono Fantastic Fest staple Shion Sono returns once again with a deeply personal (and expectedly odd) film about a lonely businessman with dreams of punk rock stardom and his best friend, a turtle. LOVEMILLA Finland, 2015 North American Premiere, 97 min Director – Teemu Nikk LOVEMILLA is a delightful peek at life and love in Finland, filled with all the usual zombies, black holes, giant pandas and superheros you’d expect from the land that gave us Renny Harlin. THE MAN WHO SAVES THE WORLD Turkey, 1982 Repertory Screening, 91 min Director – Çetin İnanç There has never been and will never be another film like THE MAN WHO SAVES THE WORLD, and your only chance to discover why is at this special Fantastic Fest screening! MY BODY HUNGERS United States, 1967 Repertory Screening, 80 min Director – Joseph W. Sarno A roadhouse hostess goes undercover to investigate the murder of her sister in a little-seen sexploiter from grindhouse rebel and master of erotica Joe Sarno. OFFICE Korea, 2015 US Premiere, 111 min Director – HONG Won-Chan OFFICE is the story of Kim, the salaryman who one day brutally murders his entire family with a hammer, and Lee, the put-upon intern at his workplace. It’s dark-as-night corporate satire hiding behind a slasher veneer with scares so well timed, you’ll jump out of your seat non-stop. REMAKE, REMIX, RIP-OFF Turkey/Germany, 2014 US Premiere, 96 min Director – Cam Kaya Welcome to Turkey. It’s home to Yesilcam, the Turkish Hollywood where, in the late ‘70s, dreams were built on nothing more than a dime. Both a loving tribute to the burgeoning cinema of this young country and a trip into history, REMAKE, REMIX, RIP-OFF brings you the most outlandish story you’ve never heard, about filmmaking so dangerous that you need a safety harness just for watching. RUINED HEART Phillipines-Germany, 2015 Regional Premiere, 73 min Director – Khavn de la Cruz Filipino iconoclast Khavn De La Cruz teams with famed cinematographer Christopher Doyle and Japanese mega star Tadanobu Asano to create a self-described “punk noir opera.” SENSORIA Sweden, 2015 World Premiere, 82 min Director – Christian Hallman Caroline Menard is a woman in her thirties who has lost everything. As she moves into a new apartment searching for a new start, she’s unaware that something ancient is waiting for her. THE SIMILARS Mexico, 2015 World Premiere, 89 min Director – Isaac Ezban On a dark and stormy night, eight strangers are stuck in a small bus station waiting for a bus to Mexico City. When strange things start happening, they find themselves trapped in a struggle for sanity and survival. SPEED South Korea, 2015 North American Premiere, 104 min Director – Lee Sang-woo Four friends navigate sex, love and life in a heart-breaking new film from Korean director Lee Sang-woo. STAND BY FOR TAPE BACK-UP United Kingdom, 2015 US Premiere, 65 min Director – Ross Sutherland Hypnotically scanning the contents of a VHS tape, this experimental essay-film eulogizes the former custodian of the analog artifact, transforming its recordings of GHOSTBUSTERS and FRESH PRINCE (among others) through rap-infused anecdotal narration, and inscribing both profound and hilarious associations to the tracking-lined images. STAND BY FOR TAPE BACK-UP will be presented as both a traditional screening as well as a live performance by creator Ross Sutherland. TARKAN VS THE VIKINGS Turkey, 1971 Repertory Screening, 86 min Director – Mehmet Aslan Based on one of the most popular comic strips in Turkey. this rip-roaring adventure sees Tarkan and his trusty wolf companion Kurt take on the despicable Viking invaders after they leave him for dead! VICTORIA Germany, 2015 Regional Premiere, 138 min Director – Sebastian Schipper Sebastian Schipper’s fourth directorial work is a single-shot tour-de-force that follows a Spanish barista through a dance club, the streets of Berlin, a coffee shop, a bank robbery and her destiny. THE X-RATED SUPERMARKET United States, 1972 Repertory Screening, 62 min Director – Paul Roberts Want to save money on your weekly sex toy budget? Look no further than the supermarket shelves in some salacious tips and reactions from suburban horny housewives.

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  • Documentary KEITH RICHARDS: UNDER THE INFLUENCE to Premiere on Netflix

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    Keith Richards: Under the Influence Academy Award® winning director Morgan Neville’s (20 Feet from Stardom, Best of Enemies) original documentary, Keith Richards: Under the Influence, an unprecedented look into the sounds and influences of rock and roll icon Keith Richards, will premiere on Friday, September 18, 2015, exclusively on Netflix worldwide. “If there’s a Mount Rushmore of Rock ’n’ Roll, Keith’s face is surely on it. He has always represented the soul of rock music—for all of the light and dark shades that implies,” said filmmaker Morgan Neville. “To my relief, Keith Richards turned out to be a real man—full of humor, knowledge and wisdom. That’s the real Keith we’ve worked to capture in our film and I’m honored to bring it to a global audience via Netflix.” “There’s no one who could bring this unprecedented look into the musical influences of Keith Richards to life as distinctively as Morgan Neville,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary Programming. “Our viewers around the world are going to love the rare moments he has captured.” Produced by Academy Award and Emmy winning producers, RadicalMedia (What Happened, Miss Simone?, The Fog of War), the film is a beautifully documented portrait of Keith Richards that takes us on a journey to discover the genesis of his sound as a songwriter, guitarist and performer. Keith Richards: Under the Influence is unparalleled in its access as it looks at one of the architects of rock ‘n’ roll music, while charting the journey of Keith’s sound and influences, back to the music that inspired him then and now – electric blues, country honky-tonk, southern soul, and more – as he creates his first solo album in 23 years. A culmination of both new and beloved music, rare archival materials and hours of intimate and reflective conversations with Keith, the film documents his long and unusual journey to become the legend we all love. In Keith Richards: Under the Influence, we visit key people and places that have always enchanted Keith and inspired his music with The Rolling Stones to his latest solo record: Chicago, home of the blues, where Keith first encountered Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and the hallowed halls of Chess Records; Nashville, where Keith explores his long love of country music; and New York where Keith recorded the album and collaborated with the likes of Steve Jordan and Waddy Wachtel. And along the way, we get an additional dose of inspiration from a long-time friend, Tom Waits. Lastly, this film is a chance to sit at the feet of one of music’s most iconic and least understood figures. The Keith Richards we get to know is smart, funny, poignant and profound. At this moment later in his life, Keith Richards is serious and reflective on his singular and spectacular journey. Helmed by Academy Award-Winning filmmaker, Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom, Best of Enemies) and produced by Neville, Justin Wilkes (What Happened, Miss Simone?, Under African Skies) and Jane Rose (Crossfire Hurricane, Shine A Light), the feature film is a beautifully documented portraiture film of Keith Richards that takes us on a journey to discover the genesis of his sound as a songwriter, guitarist and performer. Emmy®-award nominated cinematographer Igor Martinovic (What Happened, Miss Simone?, House of Cards, Man on Wire) shot the film and Joshua L. Pearson (What Happened, Miss Simone?, Made in America, Under African Skies) edited. Keith Richards: Under the Influence is a RadicalMedia & Tremolo Production.

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  • 2015 Woodstock Film Festival Unveils Official Poster by JOY + NOELLE

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    2015 Woodstock Film Festival Official Poster Art by JOY + NOELLE The 2015 Woodstock Film Festival has unveiled the official poster art by acclaimed animators Joy Buran and Noelle Melody.  Joy Buran and Noelle Melody are not only responsible for animating memorable WFF posters (2010, 2012), but some of their signature work have been Official Woodstock Selections. “Woodstock is one of our favorite festivals, so we were pretty excited to be invited to illustrate the 2015 poster,” said Noelle Melody. “When I visited the Film Center, we talked about palette and detail ideas, like scratched up stickers with the names of winning feature directors over the years. I invited Joy up for a little Drink and Draw session, meaning we drank a lot of coffee and sketched out the cake.” “We had to constantly try to keep Noelle’s cat from playing with the film strips!” said Joy Buran. “We’ve been coming to the Woodstock Film Festival for almost 10 years, so it was a huge honor to be invited to design this poster. We both feel very lucky to be part of such a big year for this festival, like we’re in high school and just got invited to a super cool Sweet Sixteen party. We hope the poster illustrates the fierce independence of the filmmakers and the festival itself.” “We are so excited to have Joy and Noelle as our official poster artists this year,” Executive Director and co-founder Meira Blaustein said. “Not only are they festival alumni, having their animation shown here before, but they perfectly encapsulate the Sweet 16 celebration aspect that is our theme this year. Incorporating past Maverick Award winners is a subtle nod to celebrating sixteen years of great independent filmmaking.” The Woodstock Film Festival will celebrate its “Sweet 16” Anniversary Sept 30-Oct 4 in the Hudson Valley towns of Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Rosendale, Kingston, and Saugerties.

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  • BLACK MASS starring Johnny Depp to World Premiere at 72nd Venice International Film Festival | TRAILER

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    BLACK MASS starring Johnny Depp Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated drama Black Mass, directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace) will world premiere in out-of-competition at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival.  The film stars Johnny Depp as notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, along with an acclaimed ensemble cast including Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rory Cochrane, Jesse Plemons, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, and Kevin Bacon. Black Mass will screen on Friday September 4th 2015 in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema atVenice Lido. The 72nd Venice International Film Festival will take place at the Lido from September 2-12, 2015; it is directed by Alberto Barbera and organized by la Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta. In 1970s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster Jimmy Bulger (Depp) to collaborate with the FBI in order to eliminate their common enemy: the Italian mob. The drama tells the story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement while consolidating his power and becoming one of the most ruthless and dangerous gangsters in Boston history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_F-lVhSfx8 Black Mass is produced by John Lesher, Brian Oliver, Scott Cooper, Patrick McCormick, and Tyler Thompson, with Brett Ratner, James Packer, Peter Mallouk, Ray Mallouk, Christopher Woodrow, Brett Granstaff, Gary Granstaff, Phil Hunt and Compton Ross serving as executive producers.Warner Bros. Pictures presents Black Mass in association with Cross Creek Pictures & RatPac-Dune Entertainment; the screenplay is by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth (Get on Up, Edge of Tomorrow) based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute Black Mass worldwide beginning September 18th. Its Italian release is scheduled for October 1, 2015.

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  • 72nd Venice Film Festival Unveils Official Film Lineup

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    72nd Venice International Film Festival The 72nd Venice International Film Festival, organized by la Biennale di Venezia, held on the Lido of Venice from September 2nd to September 12th, 2015, unveiled the official film lineup. The Official Selection includes the sections Venezia 72, Out of Competition, Orizzonti, and Venice Classics, as well as the three feature films in the project, Biennale College – Cinema.  The Independent and Parallel Sections include the SIC – International Critics’ Week, and the Giornate degli Autori – Venice Days. Venezia 72 EMIN ALPER – ABLUKA (FRENZY) Turkey, France, Qatar, 114′ Mehmet Özgür, Berkay Ates LAURIE ANDERSON – HEART OF A DOG USA, 75′ Laurie Anderson MARCO BELLOCCHIO – SANGUE DEL MIO SANGUE Italy, France, Switzerland, 106′ Roberto Herlitzka, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio, Lydiya Liberman, Fausto Russo Alesi, Alba Rohrwacher, Federica Fracassi, Filippo Timi SUE BROOKS – LOOKING FOR GRACE Australia, 97′ Richard Roxburgh, Radha Mitchell, Odessa Young, Terry Norris, Harry Richardson DRAKE DOREMUS – EQUALS USA, 101′ Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Hoult, Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver ATOM EGOYAN – REMEMBER Canada, Germany, 95′ Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Dean Norris, Bruno Ganz, Jürgen Prochnow, Heinz Lieven CARY FUKUNAGA – BEASTS OF NO NATION USA, 133′ Idris Elba GIUSEPPE M. GAUDINO – PER AMOR VOSTRO Italy, France, 110′ Valeria Golino, Massimiliano Gallo, Adriano Giannini XAVIER GIANNOLI – MARGUERITE France, Czech Republic, Belgium, 127′ Catherine Frot, André Marcon, Michel Fau, Christa Théret, Denis Mpunga, Sylvain Dieuaide AMOS GITAI – RABIN, THE LAST DAY Israel, France, 153′ Ischac Hiskiya, Pini Mitelman, Michael Warshaviak, Einat Weizman, Rotem Keinan, Yogev Yefet, Yael Abecassis LUCA GUADAGNINO – A BIGGER SPLASH Italy, France, 120′ Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts, Dakota Johnson, Corrado Guzzanti OLIVER HERMANUS – THE ENDLESS RIVER South Africa, France, 108′ Nicolas Duvauchelle, Crystal-Donna Roberts, Clayton Evertson, Darren Kelfkens, Denise Newman TOM HOOPER – THE DANISH GIRL UK, USA, 120′ Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Sebastian Koch, Ben Whishaw, Matthias Schoenaerts CHARLIE KAUFMAN, DUKE JOHNSON – ANOMALISA USA, 90′ (Animation) Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Thewlis, Tom Noonan ZHAO LIANG – BEHEMOTH China, France, 95′ (Documentary) PIERO MESSINA – L’ATTESA Italy, France, 100′ Juliette Binoche, Lou de Laâge, Giorgio Colangeli, Domenico Diele, Antonio Folletto, Giovanni Anzaldo JERZY SKOLIMOWSKI – 11 MINUT (11 MINUTES) Poland, Ireland, 81′ Richard Dormer, Paulina Chapko, Wojciech Mecwaldowski, Dawid Ogrodnik, Andrzej Chyra ALEKSANDR SOKUROV – FRANCOFONIA France, Germany, Netherlands, 87′ Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Benjamin Utzerath PABLO TRAPERO – EL CLAN Argentina, Spain, 108′ Guillermo Francella, Peter Lanzani LORENZO VIGAS – DESDE ALLÁ Venezuela, 93′ Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva CHRISTIAN VINCENT – L’HERMINE France, 98′ Fabrice Luchini, Sidse Babett Knudsen Out of Competition EVGENY AFINEEVSKY – WINTER ON FIRE Ukraine, 85′ (documentary) DANIEL ALFREDSON – GO WITH ME USA, Canada, Sweden, 90′ Anthony Hopkins, Julia Stiles, Ray Liotta, Alexander Ludwig, Hal Holbrook, Steve Bacic, Lochlyn Munro YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND – HUMAN France, 188′ (documentary) NOAH BAUMBACH, JAKE PALTROW – DE PALMA USA, 109′ (documentary) AMY BERG – JANIS USA, 115′ (documentary) CLAUDIO CALIGARI – NON ESSERE CATTIVO Italy, 100′ Luca Marinelli, Alessandro Borghi, Silvia D’Amico, Roberta Mattei SCOTT COOPER – BLACK MASS USA, 122′ Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rory Cochrane, Jesse Plemons, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Kevin Bacon GUAN HU – LAO PAO ER (MR SIX) China, 135′ Feng Xiaogang BALTASAR KORMÁKUR – EVEREST [OPENING FILM] United Kingdom, USA, 122′ Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, Jake Gyllenhaal SERGEI LOZNITSA – SOBYTIE (THE EVENT) Netherlands, Belgium, 74′ (documentary) FRANCO MARESCO – GLI UOMINI DI QUESTA CITTÀ IO NON LI CONOSCO Italy, 115′ (documentary) THOMAS MCCARTHY – SPOTLIGHT USA, 123′ Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Stanley Tucci, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James TSAI MING-LIANG – NA RI XIAWU (AFTERNOON) Chinese Taipei, 137′ Tsai Ming-liang, Lee Kang-sheng GIANFRANCO PANNONE – L’ESERCITO PIÙ PICCOLO DEL MONDO Vatican City, Italy, Switzerland, 80′ (documentary) ARTURO RIPSTEIN – LA CALLE DE LA AMARGURA Mexico, Spain, 99′ Patricia Reyes Spíndola, Nora Velázquez, Sylvia Pasquel, Arcelia Ramírez, Alejandro Suárez, Alberto Estrella MARTIN SCORSESE – THE AUDITION USA, 16′ Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Martin Scorsese BERTRAND TAVERNIER – LA VIE ET RIEN D’AUTRE France, 135′ Philippe Noiret, Sabine Azéma FREDERICK WISEMAN – IN JACKSON HEIGHTS USA, 190′ (documentary) Check out the LINE-UP of the 72nd Venice Film Festival

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  • Watch Red Band TRAILER for PRINCE directed by Sam De Jong, in Theaters on August 14th

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    Prince Sam de Jong VICE released the Red Band Trailer for PRINCE directed by Sam De Jong and winner of 2015 Berlinale – Honorary Mention: Crystal Bear for Best First Feature. PRINCE will be released in theaters and on VOD platforms August 14th. Seventeen-year-old Ayoub (Ayoub Elasri) has a lot on his plate: his father (Chaib Massaoudi) is a junkie, his mother (Elsie de Brauw) is a lonely divorcé, and his sister (Olivia Lonsdale) is falling in with the wrong crowd. Haunted by his father’s terrible reputation, Ayoub can’t get the attention of Laura (Sigrid ten Napel), the most beautiful girl in the neighborhood. He does, however, gain the attention of Kalpa (Freddy Tratlehner), an eccentric, purple Lamborghini-driving, psychotically violent local criminal. Falling in with Kalpa, Ayoub tries to enlarge his status (and wallet) enough to win Laura over, but soon finds that his new life is far more than he bargained for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgXbuIcGInA

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  • ONE & TWO Starring Kiernan Shipka Sets Release Date of August 14th | TRAILER

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    ONE & TWO starring Kiernan Shipka and Timothée Chalamet IFC Midnight has released the trailer for ONE & TWO, directed by Andrew Droz Palermo and Neima Shahdadi, and opening theatrically August 14th. ONE & TWO starring Kiernan Shipka and Timothée Chalamet, had its world premiere at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival, followed by its U.S. premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. In the confines of their isolated world, Zac and Eva (Timothée Chalamet of “Homeland” and Kiernan Shipka of “Mad Men”) live under the constant watch of a father (Grant Bowler, “True Blood”) that rules with strict routine and discipline. They live for nightfall — for moments of escape — and rely on each other for moments of levity. After a long dormant illness returns, their mother (Elizabeth Reaser, THE TWILIGHT SAGA), once a beacon of light and joy, struggles to unite the family in an increasingly somber home. As their father searches for a divine answer to the heartbreaking circumstances of his crumbling world, Zac and Eva steal moments to explore burgeoning otherworldly abilities and to dream of a life free of limitations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5eKwzKkkIc

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  • 13 Films to Compete for 2015 Kutxabank-New Directors Award at San Sebastian Festival

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    AFTER EDEN HANS CHRISTIAN BERGER The San Sebastian Festival revealed the titles of the thirteen films to compete for the 2015 Kutxabank-New Directors Award, decided by a specific international jury and carrying €50,000.  Last year’s prize was won by Urok / The Lesson, directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov. Following its world premiere at the Toronto Festival and its European premiere in the New Directors section, the film has been distributed all over the world, winning awards at numerous international festivals, such as Gothenburg, Thessaloniki, Tokyo, Warsaw, Varna, Vilnius, Sofia and Transylvania. Urok / The Lesson is also one of the three finalist films for the European Parliament Lux Prize. AFTER EDEN HANS CHRISTIAN BERGER (CANADA) (pictured above) A tale of love and temptation in the age of Internet pornography. A reclusive university student tracks down his favourite porn star in the real world and becomes her anonymous follower – until he finds the courage to connect in person. BARASH MICHAL VINIK (ISRAEL) 17 year old Naama Barash enjoys alcohol, drugs and hanging out with like-minded friends. Her activities are an escape from a home where her parents always fight, and a rebellious, army-enrolled sister, who, one day, disappears. As a new girl shows up at school, Barash falls deep in love for the first time, and the intensity of the experience at once confuses her and gives her life new meaning. EINER VON UNS / ONE OF US STEPHAN RICHTER (AUSTRIA) Julian, a 14-year old teenager, dies surrounded by the colorful products of a huge supermarket. The film is based on a true story and shows the rebellion of the local youth against the bleak life of suburbia. GRANNY’S DANCING ON THE TABLE HANNA SKÖLD (SWEDEN – DENMARK) GRANNY'S DANCING ON THE TABLE HANNA SKÖLD Eini grows up isolated from society with her father, a man afraid of the world. His biggest fear is to be left alone and to be left by Eini. He does everything he can to make her believe that the world outside and the people out there are evil, and that all that has to do with sexuality and adulthood is dangerous. IONA SCOTT GRAHAM (UK – GERMANY) IONA Three years after competing at the New Directors Section with Shell, Scottish director Scott Graham comes back to the San Sebastian Festival with this drama. Iona and her teenage son Bull seek refuge from a violent crime on the island where she was born. Iona’s return exposes Bull to a way of life she rejected as a teenager and sends a shock wave through the family she left behind. JAJDA / THIRST TSOTSORKOVA SVETLA (BULGARIA) JAJDA / THIRST A couple and their teenage son eke out a living on a hilltop, doing the laundry for local hotels, despite the intermittent water supply. Their simple life is overturned by the arrival of a father-and-daughter team of diviner and well-digger. LE NOUVEAU / THE NEW KID RUDI ROSENBERG (FRANCE) LE NOUVEAU / THE NEW KID Benoit, 14 years old, leaves the country-side for Paris. His first day at school turns out to be more difficult than expected, and he quickly becomes isolated. Until one day a new girl arrives in class… PARASOL VALÉRY ROSIER (BELGIUM) PARASOL Holiday time, a Mediterranean island. Three wanderings at summer’s end. The determination, no matter the cost, to make things change. Nostalgia for a past that never existed. PAULA EUGENIO CANEVARI (ARGENTINA – SPAIN) Paula Young Paula lives and works at the pile of a middle-class family caring for their children. Her life takes an unexpected turn on discovering that she’s pregnant by a young man who refuses to accept his fatherhood. Directorial debut by Eugenio Canevari, who participated in the International Film Students Meeting at San Sebastian in 2013 with his short film, Gorila baila. PIKADERO BEN SHARROCK (SPAIN – UK) A penniless, young couple have trouble consummating their fledgling relationship in their parents’ homes, forcing their relationship into question as they try to break free from the shackles of a crumbling economy. Barbara Goenaga and Joseba Usabiaga star in this romantic comedy. RODINNY FILM / FAMILY FILM OLMO OMERZU (CZECH REP. – GERMANY – SLOVENIA – FRANCE – SLOVAKIA) RODINNY FILM / FAMILY FILM Husband and wife set sail across the ocean, leaving their two children to explore the freedom of being home alone. The boat goes under, and so does the family. A dog, stuck on a desert island, is their only hope. STAY WITH ME JINWOO RHEE (SOUTH KOREA) STAY WITH ME Scholar Leeseop is new in class, where troublemaker Hayun is in. The two become friends, influencing and changing each other’s lives little by little. A drama that thoughtfully explores teenage life. VIDA SEXUAL DE LAS PLANTAS (SEX LIFE OF PLANTS) SEBASTIÁN BRAHM (CHILE) After an accident turns the love of Barbara’s life into a dimwit stranger, she gets involved with a man who can offer her stability, minus the passion. She tries to adapt to her new fate, but the memory of lost love continues to hound her. Until she realises that what really matters isn’t lost.

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  • 28th Tokyo International Film Festival to Open with THE WALK and Close with TERMINAL

    Robert Zemeckis’s The Walk starringJoseph Gordon-Levitt “The Walk” (pictured above) directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt will open the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), and the “TERMINAL” directed by Tetsuo Shinohara, starring Koichi Sato, will close the festival. The 28th edition of TIFF will run October 23 to 31, 2014. The Walk Director: Robert Zemeckis Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR1EmTKAWIw Twelve people have walked on the moon. Only one has ever, or will ever, walk where Philippe Petit did in 1974. Overcoming odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls, he executes a seemingly impossible plan. An emotional, character-driven story. TERMINAL Director: Tetsuo Shinohara Cast: Koichi Sato, Tsubasa Honda, Machiko Ono A final stop becomes a starting station. The masterpiece of Shino Sakuragi, who won the 149th Naoki Prize at HOTEL ROYAL in 2013, is in motion picture. In Kushiro, Hokkaido, a pair who abandoned their own lives encounters and develops a moving drama by restarting new lives. The festival also announced new venues in Shinjuku City and newly added sections; Panorama, Japan Now, Japanese Classics, were introduced. Bryan Singer, the director of The Usual Suspects which won two Academy Awards and the Tokyo Gold Prize in Young Cinema Competition at the 8th TIFF will serve as the head of jury. He commented, “First of all I am thrilled to be returning to Tokyo. It’s my eighth time, but it has been awhile. As a lover of film, the opportunity to see fresh new work is first and foremost an honor. To help in the advancement of filmmakers as a jury president/member of such a prestigious festival is an even greater honor. Although I have made some rather commercial pictures, my career was born out of the festival system. I truly understand its importance and look forward to being part of it again. As a juror, but most importantly as an audience member.”

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  • African Music Documentary TANGO NEGRO gets NYC and Chicago Theatrical Release | TRAILER

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    Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango The music documentary Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango will be released in Chicago and in New York City for a one week run starting on August 14, 2015.  In Chicago, Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango will play at Facets Cinematheque (1517 West Fullerton Ave.) and in New York City at MIST Harlem (46 West 116th). The film will also screen in Washington DC at the Goethe Institute (812  Seventh St, NW) in the context of the 9th Annual African Diaspora International Film Festival. Tango Negro explores the expression of Africanness inherent in the dance of the “tango” and the contribution of African cultures to the dance’s creation. Angolan director, Dom Pedro, details the dance’s early cultural significance as a depiction of the social life of captured African slaves and provides an expansive compilation of musical performances and interviews from tango enthusiasts and historians alike.  Tango Negro provides a novel insight into the depth of tango’s sub-Saharan African musical influence, a presence that has crossed oceans and endured the tides of forced bondage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1OCMY06u7M

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