Former President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev will be not be able to attend the World Premiere of his documentary The Arrow of Time directed by Leila Conners, at the Zurich Film Festival.
The Nobel Laureate was strongly advised by his doctors not to travel, and for that reason cancelled his trip. Instead, the former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union has written a letter to the ZFF, in which he expresses his thanks for the invitation to Zurich and wishes the film, in which he plays a major part, a successful launch.
The director of the documentary film The Arrow of Time, Leila Conners, and further members of this Swiss-American co-production’s crew, will attend the festival in person. The ZFF will host the world premiere of The Arrow of Time in its Special Screenings section.
The former USSR President, whose disarmament negotiations with the USA led to the end of the Cold War, is warning once again of a new nuclear arms race. Director Leila Conners interviewed Gorbachev and other renowned politicians from Germany, France and the USA in her film, which is both a taut and disturbing review of our complicated 20th century world history, and an appeal not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Here is the letter from Mikhail Gorbachev to the Festival (slightly shortened version):
Dear hosts of the Zurich Film Festival!
Dear guests! Dear ladies and gentlemen, my dear friends!
Sadly, I am not in a condition to personally take part in our meeting – doctors have not been cooperative in this regard.
But I am very happy that The Arrow of Time documentary is finally on its way to the viewers. It is released at an uneasy time when the armaments race is gaining momentum again, when there are new attempts to fix global issues by force, often by military means.
The relationship between Russia and the West has fundamental importance in today’s global world. One of the key links in this chain – Russian-American relations. It has been three quarters of a year since the new President of the US assumed office, yet up to date there has been no full-fledged Russian-American meeting at the highest level. This is simply abnormal. I would like to call upon the leaders of our countries to immediately start preparations for such meeting. It will serve as the most crucial turning point to improve the state of affairs in the entire world.
I know what I am talking about. It was the Soviet-American summit in Geneva that paved the road to ceasing the Cold War. At that time, at first nobody believed that the negotiations would end well. But it was there, on the shore of Lake Geneva, that for the first time ever the leaders of USSR and USA said that “the nuclear war is untenable and there will be no winning side”. It was precisely that meeting that played the crucial role in transforming the globe, which was at the time paralyzed in the Cold War.
Unfortunately, due to a number of reasons we find ourselves thrown back in our efforts to build a new world.
Global issues that we face, starting from protecting the peace and safety to climate change, cybersecurity, and terrorism, demand that we rise to the new level of global government that would reflect the challenges of the XXI century. And for that, we need to reform the United Nations.
Many of these ideas might appear Utopian or unachievable in the context of the present political order, and that is precisely because they address the roots of the current issues.
These ideas, essentially presented in the documentary, aim to dispel the fatalistic feeling of helplessness, to show that there is a way forward, and that we will definitely start on that way, be it today by a conscious choice, or in the near future as a result of painful convulsive shocks.
And the clock is ticking…
In conclusion, I would like to thank the makers of the movie: Leila Conners and her entire creative crew, many of my friends and partners in implementation of the new course of action in international relations, for their contribution in creating this important cinematic document.
Mikhail Gorbachev-
THE ARROW OF TIME, Documentary on Mikhail Gorbachev, will World Premiere at Zurich Film Festival
Former President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev will be not be able to attend the World Premiere of his documentary The Arrow of Time directed by Leila Conners, at the Zurich Film Festival.
The Nobel Laureate was strongly advised by his doctors not to travel, and for that reason cancelled his trip. Instead, the former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union has written a letter to the ZFF, in which he expresses his thanks for the invitation to Zurich and wishes the film, in which he plays a major part, a successful launch.
The director of the documentary film The Arrow of Time, Leila Conners, and further members of this Swiss-American co-production’s crew, will attend the festival in person. The ZFF will host the world premiere of The Arrow of Time in its Special Screenings section.
The former USSR President, whose disarmament negotiations with the USA led to the end of the Cold War, is warning once again of a new nuclear arms race. Director Leila Conners interviewed Gorbachev and other renowned politicians from Germany, France and the USA in her film, which is both a taut and disturbing review of our complicated 20th century world history, and an appeal not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Here is the letter from Mikhail Gorbachev to the Festival (slightly shortened version):
Dear hosts of the Zurich Film Festival!
Dear guests! Dear ladies and gentlemen, my dear friends!
Sadly, I am not in a condition to personally take part in our meeting – doctors have not been cooperative in this regard.
But I am very happy that The Arrow of Time documentary is finally on its way to the viewers. It is released at an uneasy time when the armaments race is gaining momentum again, when there are new attempts to fix global issues by force, often by military means.
The relationship between Russia and the West has fundamental importance in today’s global world. One of the key links in this chain – Russian-American relations. It has been three quarters of a year since the new President of the US assumed office, yet up to date there has been no full-fledged Russian-American meeting at the highest level. This is simply abnormal. I would like to call upon the leaders of our countries to immediately start preparations for such meeting. It will serve as the most crucial turning point to improve the state of affairs in the entire world.
I know what I am talking about. It was the Soviet-American summit in Geneva that paved the road to ceasing the Cold War. At that time, at first nobody believed that the negotiations would end well. But it was there, on the shore of Lake Geneva, that for the first time ever the leaders of USSR and USA said that “the nuclear war is untenable and there will be no winning side”. It was precisely that meeting that played the crucial role in transforming the globe, which was at the time paralyzed in the Cold War.
Unfortunately, due to a number of reasons we find ourselves thrown back in our efforts to build a new world.
Global issues that we face, starting from protecting the peace and safety to climate change, cybersecurity, and terrorism, demand that we rise to the new level of global government that would reflect the challenges of the XXI century. And for that, we need to reform the United Nations.
Many of these ideas might appear Utopian or unachievable in the context of the present political order, and that is precisely because they address the roots of the current issues.
These ideas, essentially presented in the documentary, aim to dispel the fatalistic feeling of helplessness, to show that there is a way forward, and that we will definitely start on that way, be it today by a conscious choice, or in the near future as a result of painful convulsive shocks.
And the clock is ticking…
In conclusion, I would like to thank the makers of the movie: Leila Conners and her entire creative crew, many of my friends and partners in implementation of the new course of action in international relations, for their contribution in creating this important cinematic document.
Mikhail Gorbachev
-
VIDEO: Watch New Trailer for Phillip Gelatt’s THEY REMAIN
Here is the new trailer for Phillip Gelatt’s They Remain which will World Premiere at H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival this week in Portland on October 7 and a theatrical release this Fall.
The film starring William Jackson Harper (“Paterson,” “True Story”) and Rebecca Henderson (“Mistress America”) is based on the 2010 short story, “-30-” by award-winning author Laird Barron.
They Remain explores the evolving relationship between Keith and Jessica, two scientists who are employed by a vast, impersonal corporation to investigate an unspeakable horror that took place at the remote encampment of a mysterious cult. Working and living in a state-of-the-art, high tech environment that is completely at odds with their surroundings, they spend their days gathering physical evidence, analyzing it, and reporting on their findings.
The intensity of their work, and their extreme isolation, bring the pair closer. But, when Jessica discovers a mysterious artifact of unknown origin, the dynamic between them changes: secrets are kept, sexual tensions arise, and paranoia sets in. Keith begins to have visions and is unable to distinguish whether they are nightmares or hauntings. Having lost all sense of what is real and what is imagined, all he knows is that the horror he and Jessica have been sent to uncover—a horror that could be biological, psychological, or supernatural— now threatens his very survival.
-
Léa Mysius’ AVA is First Film Selected for Stockholm Film Festival Competition | Trailer
Stockholm Film Festival is working hard to promote female directors in the film industry, and has selected Ava by Léa Mysius as the first movie in the Stockholm XXVIII Competition.
Léa Mysius debut drama Ava was nominated for four awards at 2017 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, winning the Palme d’Or for Best Movie in the SADC category as well as the Palm Dog jury prize.
Ava will also have the honor of being the official campaign picture of this year’s Stockholm Film Festival.
Léa Mysius’ captivating drama follows thirteen-year-old Ava who is spending the summer at the Atlantic coast with her mother. But the summer idyll is shattered when Ava is told that she will lose her eyesight in just a few months. To live life to the fullest before turning blind Ava decides to escape – with a young man on the run.
“I’m very proud that we can present an equal lineup in the Stockholm XXVIII Competition. It’s a result of hard work. We review all films directed by women, and for that reason we manage to find fantastic movies that we want to highlight,” says festival director Git Sheynius.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF2XRVr2o2c
-
MUDBOUND Director Dee Rees to Give Closing Keynote at 13th Film Independent Forum
[caption id="attachment_24926" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Dee Rees[/caption]
Award-winning filmmaker Dee Rees (Pariah, Bessie, Mudbound) will close the 13th annual Film Independent Forum with a Keynote Conversation.
Chappaquiddick will kick off the event as the Opening Night Film on Friday, October 20, directed by John Curran, starring Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms, Jim Gaffigan, Clancy Brown and Taylor Nichols with Olivia Thirlby and Bruce Dern.
“It has been so great to see Dee Rees grow as an auteur since her debut film Pariah garnered the John Cassavetes Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards just five years ago—I am sure filmmakers attending will be inspired as she shares her artistic journey at the Forum,” said Maria Raquel Bozzi, Senior Director of Education and International Initiatives.
Additional Speakers include:
Mariana Acuña, Co-Founder, Opaque Studios
Sam Bailey, Director, Brown Girls
Debra Birnbaum, Executive Editor, Television, Variety
Josh Braun, Submarine Entertainment
Lisa A. Callif, Esq. Partner, Donaldson+Callif
Kat Candler, Filmmaker/TV Producing Director, Queen Sugar
Dana Calvo, Television Writer/Executive Producer/Creator, Good Girls Revolt
Aymar Jean Christian, Creator, Open TV
Jennifer Cochis, LA Film Festival Director, Film Independent
Mercedes Cooper, Director of Marketing and Promotions, ARRAY
Lorraine D’Alessio, Managing Attorney, D’Alessio Law Group
Christine Davila, Creative Executive, Stage13
Lisa Hasko, Manager of Documentary Programs and Fiscal Sponsorship, Film Independent
Josh Healey, Writer/Producer, The North Pole Show
Yvan Iturriaga, Director, The North Pole Show
Azazel Jacobs, Writer/Director, The Lovers
Jessica Kantor, Director/Producer/Interactive Storyteller
Alia Quart Khan, Director of Publicity, Film Independent
Missy Laney, Independent Marketing and Distribution Strategist
Ben LeClaire, Producer, The Lovers
Grace Lee, Filmmaker, American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs
Matthew Lessall, President, Casting Society of America
Warren Littlefield, Executive Producer, The Handmaid’s Tale, Fargo
Allen Maldonado, Founder, Everybody Digital
Ray Mansfield, Partner, QC Entertainment
Kat McCaffrey, VP Drama Programming, HBO
Jordana Mollick, Partner/Producer/Manager, Haven Entertainment
Laura Nix, Director/Writer/Producer, Felt Films
Brian O’Shea, CEO, The Exchange
Stu Pollard, Producer, Bass Ackwards, And Then I Go, Rust Creek
Doug Pray, Executive Producer, Editor, The Defiant Ones
Jon Reiss, Filmmaker/Author, Think Outside the Box Office
Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Founder, Superlative Films
Ilse Ronteltap, Head of the Film Production Incentive, Netherlands Film Fund
Marjan Safinia, Board President, International Documentary Association
Paula M. Schmidt, Senior Vice President, Film Finances Inc.
Bec Smith, Agent, UTA
Chris Stinson, Producer, The Lovers
Rahdi Taylor, Executive, Concordia Studio
-
PORTO Starring Anton Yelchin Sets November Release Date | Trailer
Porto, directed by Gabe Klinger, and starring the late Anton Yelchin along with Lucie Lucas, will be released in the US in the Fall by Kino Lorber. The film, which had its world premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival and US premiere at SXSW, will open at the Sunshine Cinema in New York City on November 17 and at the Nuart in Los Angeles on November 24. A national release will follow.
Jake (Anton Yelchin) and Mati (Lucie Lucas) are two expats who experience a brief but intimate connection in the ancient Portuguese city of Porto. He’s an American loner exiled from his family. She’s a student from France embroiled in an affair with one of her professors. After spotting each other from a distance at an archeological site and then again at a train station and a café, Jake works up the courage to approach Mati and they embark on a night of carefree intimacy.
This romantic encounter is viewed from years later, both characters still haunted by the powerful connection they shared. Using a mix of film stocks and art direction that evokes a bygone era of European cinema, PORTO, shot by renowned cinematographer Wyatt Garfield (Gabriel, Beatriz at Dinner, Mediterranea), delivers a cinematic form of saudade – a Portuguese word that describes an emotional state of nostalgic longing for a person or place that one has loved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3T78VfGyes
-
Napa Valley Film Festival Unveils 2017 Lineup, Opens with THE UPSIDE
[caption id="attachment_24918" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Upside[/caption]
The seventh annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) returns this fall with its five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films from November 8 to 12, 2017. The festival’s official opening night film is The Weinstein Company’s The Upside, directed by Neil Berger and starring Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman and Kevin Hart. Closing the festival will be the Molly’s Game, directed by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jessica Chastain, Kevin Costner and Idris Elba in the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.
This year’s line-up of Celebrity Tributes that salute the highest levels of cinematic achievement includes Charles Krug Legendary Filmmaker Nancy Meyers (It’s Complicated, The Intern), Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer Michael Shannon (The Current War, The Shape of Water), and Spotlight Tribute honoree Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me By Your Name; The Shape of Water). New this year, The Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch Humanitarian Tribute will be presented to Nikki Reed (Twilight, Ian Somerhalder Foundation) and Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries, Ian Somerhalder Foundation). The Celebrity Tributes program will take place on Thursday, November 9 at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville and will include video highlight reels and intimate on-stage conversations with Access Hollywood’s Natalie Morales.
In addition to the Celebrity Tributes program, Will Ferrell (Anchorman; Daddy’s Home 2) will be honored with the Caldwell Vineyards Maverick Tribute on Friday, November 10, and the first annual Rising Star Showcase at Materra | Cunat Vineyards on Saturday, November 11 will honor a handful of young talent including Ana de Armas (War Dogs; Blade Runner 2049), Odeya Rush, (Lady Bird, Goosebumps), Austin Stowell (Battle of the Sexes, Bridge of Spies), Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Faking It) and Alex Wolff (My Friend Dahmer; Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle).
NVFF will kick off with their Sneak Preview Night on Tuesday, November 7 with a special presentation of Fox Searchlight Pictures’ The Shape of Water. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer and Michael Stuhlbarg, is an other-worldly tale of Elisa whose life is changed forever when she and a co-worker Zelda discover a secret classified experiment at the hidden high-security government laboratory where they work.
The festival will also play host to an incredible selection of films, including many of this year’s award-contenders, such as:
78/52 – (IFC) An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), the “man behind the curtain,” and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe.
Call Me By Your Name – (Sony Pictures Classics) In 1983, the son of an American professor is enamored by the graduate student who comes to study and live with his family in their northern Italian home. Together, they share an unforgettable summer full of music, food, and romance that will forever change them. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg. Michael Stuhlbarg is expected to attend.
Chappaquiddick – (Entertainment Studios) Ted Kennedy’s life and political career become derailed in the aftermath of a fatal car accident in 1969 that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne. Directed by John Curran and starring Jason Clarke, Bruce Dern, Ed Helms and Kate Mara.
Crown Heights – (Amazon Studios) When Colin Warner is wrongfully convicted of murder, his best friend Carl King devotes his life to proving Colin’s innocence. Directed by Matt Ruskin and starring Nnamdi Asomugha and Lakeith Stanfield. Nnamdi Asomugha is expected to attend.
The Current War – (The Weinstein Company) The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Nicholas Hoult, Michael Shannon and Katherine Waterston. Michael Shannon is expected to attend.
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool – (Sony Pictures Classics) A romance sparks between a young actor and a Hollywood leading lady. Directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Jamie Bell and Annette Bening.
I, Tonya – (Neon) Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises among the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes. Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Allison Janney, Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan.
LA 92 – (NatGeo) A look at the events that led up to the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles following the Rodney King beating by the police. Directed by Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin.
The Leisure Seeker – (Sony Pictures Classics) A runaway couple go on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker, traveling from Boston to The Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West. They recapture their passion for life and their love for each other on a road trip that provides revelation and surprise right up to the very end. Directed by Paolo Virzì and starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.
The rest of the NVFF film line-up is as follows:
Core Competitions
Narrative Features:
American Folk, Directed by David Heinz The Boy Downstairs, Directed by Sophie Brooks The House of Tomorrow, Directed by Peter Livolsi I Can I Will I Did, Directed by Nadine Truong People You May Know, Directed by Shewin Shilati The Sounding, Directed by Catherine Eaton Stuck, Directed by Michael Berry Tater Tot & Patton, Directed by Andrew Kightlinger The Year of Spectacular Men, Directed by Lea ThompsonDocumentary Features:
ACORN and the Firestorm, Directed by Reuben Atlas and Samuel D. Pollard Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise, Directed by Jennifer Townsend Coyote, Directed by Thomas Simmons A Fine Line, Directed by Joanna James The Gateway Bug, Directed by Johanna B. Kelly Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies, Directed by Amanda Ladd-Jones Mighty Ground, Directed by Delila Vallot Skid Row Marathon, Directed by Mark Hayes The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin, Directed by Jennifer M. KrootThe Lounge
Features:
Amanda & Jack Go Glamping, Directed by Brandon Dickerson Class Rank, Directed by Eric Stoltz Coup d’etat, Directed by Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse Entanglement, Directed by Jason James A Happening of Monumental Proportions, Directed by Judy Greer Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town, Directed by Christian Papierniak Life Hack, Directed by Sloan Copeland Quest, Directed by Santiago Rizzo The Relationtrip, Directed by Renée Felice Smith and C.A. GabrielSpecial Presentations
40 Years in the Making – The Magic Music Movie, Directed by Lee Aronsohn The Ataxian, Directed by Zack Bennett and Kevin Schlanser Back to Burgundy, Directed by Cédric Klapisch Bernard and Huey, Directed by Dan Mirvish Breakable You, Directed by Andrew Wagner California Typewriter, Directed by Doug Nichol Constructing Albert, Directed by Laura Collado and Jim Loomis Dog Years, Directed by Adam Rifkin Don’t Shoot the Zebra Pony, Directed by Kathryn Lauritzen Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table, Directed by Leslie Iwerks Fermented, Directed by Jon Cianfrani Food Evolution, Directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution, Directed by Jamie Redford Liyana, Directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp Man In Red Bandana, Directed by Matthew Weiss Michelin Stars: Tales from the Kitchen, Directed by Rasmus Dinesen New Chefs on the Block, Directed by Dustin Harrison-Atlas Poisoning Paradise, Directed by Keely Shaye Brosnan Rebels On Pointe, Directed by Bobbi Jo Hart Served Like a Girl, Directed by Lysa Heslov Taming Wild: A Girl and a Mustang, Directed by Elsa Sinclair To the Edge of the Sky, Directed by Todd Wider and Jedd Wider Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, Directed by Anna Chai, Nari Kye
-
Simon Baker’s BREATH Will Have its European Premiere at Zurich Film Festival
Simon Baker’s directorial debut Breath, will have its European premiere as a Gala Premiere at the 2017 Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) on October 5.
Simon Baker is a Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild-nominated actor and director, honored with Best Actor nominations for the TV series’ THE MENTALIST and THE GUARDIAN, who first gained international attention when he starred in the Academy Award-winning L.A. CONFIDENTIAL.
Notable films he has starred in include Michael Winterbottom’s thriller noir THE KILLER INSIDE ME, alongside with Casey Affleck and Kate Hudson; Ang Lee’s critically acclaimed RIDE WITH THE DEVIL; lauded box office success THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, opposite to Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway; and the Academy Award nominated feature MARGIN CALL, with Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Jeremy Irons and Demi Moore.
BREATH
Mid 70’s, in a remote corner of the Western Australian coast. Pikelet (Samson Coulter) and Loonie (Ben Spence) stand on the edge of young adulthood. The boys bond over bikes and daredevil stunts, but their dreams begin to focus on the ocean. One day, the boys encounter the enigmatic Sando (Simon Baker), a former professional surfer, whose effortless grace on the waves and studied detachment on land compels the boys. Pikelet and Loonie begin to learn how to surf. The first time they take their boards out, Sando notices them, offers to store their boards under his house, and the mentorship begins. The challenge quickly becomes to surf Old Smokey, a dangerous break a kilometre out to sea. Pikelet and Loonie’s lives increasingly centre around Sando, his house, and most importantly, his role as guru. Part of Sando’s allure and enigma is that he disappears then reappears, but Eva (Elizabeth Debicki), Sando’s enigmatic wife, is always at the house. A former champion freestyle skier, Eva’s career was cut tragically cut short by a knee injury from which she’s never recovered physically or emotionally. Sando’s forcefulness, Eva’s allure, Loonie’s competitiveness and the spectre of Old Smokey will all force Pikelet to make crucial decisions — to give in to the expectations of those around him, or to become his own person.
-
A CIAMBRA is Italy’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | Trailer
Jonas Carpignano’s A Ciambra has been selected by Italy as the official candidate in the foreign-language film category at the 2018 Oscars.
The film, executive produced by Martin Scorsese, recently won the Europa Cinemas Label Award in Directors’ Fortnight at this year’s 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
In A Ciambra, a small Romani community in Calabria, Pio Amato is desperate to grow up fast. At 14, he drinks, smokes and is one of the few to easily slide between the region’s factions – the local Italians, the African refugees and his fellow Romani. Pio follows his older brother Cosimo everywhere, learning the necessary skills for life on the streets of their hometown. When Cosimo disappears and things start to go wrong, Pio sets out to prove he’s ready to step into his big brother’s shoes but soon finds himself faced with an impossible decision that will show if he is truly ready to become a man.
The film will released in theaters in the US in 2018 via Sundance Selects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1l4Hpp27A4
-
EVA (YEVA) is Armenia’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | Trailer
Eva (Yeva) directed by Anahid Abad, has been selected by Armenia as the country’s submission for the best foreign-language film race at the 2018 Oscars.
The Armenian-language film stars many recognized actors and actresses from Armenia, such as Narine Grigoryan, Shant Hovhannisyan, Marjan Avetisyan, Rozi Avetisyan, Sergey Tovmasyan, Vrezh Qasuni, Tigran Davtyan, Nanor Petrosyan, Evelina Adamyan, and Marat Davtyan.
The film follows Yeva, a young woman, who escapes her influential in-laws with her daughter Nareh, after her husband’s tragic death and takes refuge in one of the villages of Karabakh, Armenia. A complete stranger in the village, the woman is obliged to live her life in disguise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t8rxzDQ5o0
-
ZAMA is Argentina’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | Trailer
Zama directed by Lucrecia Martel has been selected by Argentina as the country’s submission in the foreign-language film category at the 2018 Oscar, as well as the Spanish Goya Awards.
The decision was made by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Argentina (Academia de las Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas de la Argentina).
This long-awaited adaptation of Antonio Di Benedetto’s 1956 classic of Latin American modernism transports us to a remote corner of 18th-century South America, where a servant of the Spanish crown slowly loses his grip on reality. Written and directed by Lucrecia Martel, the Argentine auteur behind The Holy Girl and The Headless Woman, Zama is that rarest of creative feats: a perfect coupling of literary source material and cinematic sensibility. Don Diego de Zama (Daniel Giménez Cacho) leads a suspended existence as a sort of upper-tier government clerk in what is now Paraguay. He has not seen his wife and children in years. His relationships with his fellow Europeans are strained due to competition and confusion, while his interactions with the settlement’s Black and Indigenous servants are addled by desire and hostility. Zama’s entire sense of purpose is tied up in the promise that he will soon be delivered to his rightful position in faraway Buenos Aires, but the waiting seems endless. As time passes, Zama’s paranoia and capacity for violence burgeons — while his circumstances become only more precarious. TIFF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3bJeHCOwYo
-
Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival Announces 2018 Dates
[caption id="attachment_24894" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain[/caption]
The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) co-founded by Academy Award® winner Geena Davis, announced the dates for the fourth annual festival, returning to Bentonville, Arkansas May 1 to 6, 2018.
“It’s exciting to watch the filmmaking community and senior industry executives come together to support women & diverse voices,” said Davis. “Word is traveling that BFF identifies these voices and connects them with partners who’ll ensure that their stories reach wider audiences. We look forward to presenting all forms of media and providing unique opportunities for storytellers.”
Added BFF co-founder Trevor Drinkwater, “As we enter our fourth year, BFF is focused on accelerating the entertainment industry’s emphasis on producing and integrating diversity into mass media. The business imperative is clear: content that is gender balanced and inclusive performs better. BFF is working hard to provide a platform for the next generation of creators who’ll produce the content that inspires all young minds to do great things.”
BFF kicks off its year-round season on October 11 with the World Premiere of “6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain” at the AMC Fiesta Square in Fayetteville, Arkansas with stars Mira Sorvino, Sarah Dumont, director Scott Waugh and writer Madison Turner, along with the subject of the true-life story, Eric LeMarque. The film first screened in the Showcase section at the 2017 Bentonville Film Festival and tells the story of former professional hockey player LeMarque (played by Josh Hartnett), a double amputee who leads an inspiring life after a harrowing struggle for survival.
“6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain” chronicles LeMarque’s struggles after being stranded atop a mountain for eight days during a snowstorm. He is forced to face his past and come to terms with his personal demons and rediscover the power of faith within in order to survive. Tooley Entertainment and Sonar Entertainment fully financed the film which hits theaters for an exclusive cinema premiere on Thursday, October 12 and will be available on demand and digital HD on Friday, October 13.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s30aDnoz-LE
The 2018 festival submissions for the BFF Film Competition will open on October 2, 2017 and close December 12, 2017. There is also a late submission deadline of January 12, 2018. Films accepted into the festival will be announced March 2018.
The Constitution[/caption]