Approximately 100 films have been selected for official screenings at the 15th Annual deadCENTER Film Festival to take place Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, June 14 at five locations in downtown Oklahoma City.
More than 1,000 films were submitted for the 2015 deadCENTER Film Festival, including comedies, dramas, documentaries and short films from Oklahoma and around the world. Click here to view the schedule
“With well over 1,000 submissions, this was our most competitive year ever,” said Kim Haywood, director of programming and education for deadCENTER Film Festival. “It was a great thrill to see a record eight featurefilms produced in Oklahoma make the cut. It is obvious that our great universities and our state rebate program are having a huge impact on the growth of the film industry here in Oklahoma.”
According to the festival, more than 25,000 people attended deadCENTER Film Festival screenings in 2014, generating an economic impact of approximately $2.1 million for Oklahoma City.
Indoor screening locations will include the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr., Harkins Bricktown 16, 150 E. Reno Ave., Devon Energy Auditorium, 333 W. Sheridan Ave., and the Terrace Room at Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave.
All Access passes are available online for $125 ($75 for students), and gains the holder priority admission to every film, party, panel and special event. Individual tickets may be purchased for $10 at the door prior to each screening. Admission priority is given to pass holders.
There will also be three outdoor screenings that are free and open to the public at The Great Lawn at Myriad Botanical Gardens.
The deadCENTER Film Festival is Oklahoma’s largest film festival, named for its geographic location in the center of the U.S. The nonprofit organization provides year-round events and education to support its mission to promote, encourage and celebrate the independent film arts.-
100 Films Selected For 2015 deadCENTER Film Festival
Approximately 100 films have been selected for official screenings at the 15th Annual deadCENTER Film Festival to take place Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, June 14 at five locations in downtown Oklahoma City.
More than 1,000 films were submitted for the 2015 deadCENTER Film Festival, including comedies, dramas, documentaries and short films from Oklahoma and around the world. Click here to view the schedule
“With well over 1,000 submissions, this was our most competitive year ever,” said Kim Haywood, director of programming and education for deadCENTER Film Festival. “It was a great thrill to see a record eight featurefilms produced in Oklahoma make the cut. It is obvious that our great universities and our state rebate program are having a huge impact on the growth of the film industry here in Oklahoma.”
According to the festival, more than 25,000 people attended deadCENTER Film Festival screenings in 2014, generating an economic impact of approximately $2.1 million for Oklahoma City.
Indoor screening locations will include the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr., Harkins Bricktown 16, 150 E. Reno Ave., Devon Energy Auditorium, 333 W. Sheridan Ave., and the Terrace Room at Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave.
All Access passes are available online for $125 ($75 for students), and gains the holder priority admission to every film, party, panel and special event. Individual tickets may be purchased for $10 at the door prior to each screening. Admission priority is given to pass holders.
There will also be three outdoor screenings that are free and open to the public at The Great Lawn at Myriad Botanical Gardens.
The deadCENTER Film Festival is Oklahoma’s largest film festival, named for its geographic location in the center of the U.S. The nonprofit organization provides year-round events and education to support its mission to promote, encourage and celebrate the independent film arts.
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Gay French Drama TOM AT THE FARM To Be Released in U.S. Unrated
The gay French-language drama TOM AT THE FARM directed by Xavier Dolan, will finally be released in the U.S., nearly two years after it premiered at the 2013 Venice Film Festival.
Tom at the Farm, starring Dolan, along with Caleb Landry Jones and Pierre-Yves Cardinal, will be released in theaters and on VOD platforms on August 14, 2015.
“After the sudden death of his lover, Guillaume (Jones), Tom (Dolan) travels from his home in the city to Guillaume’s family’s remote country farm for the funeral. Upon arriving, he’s shocked to find that the family knows nothing of him and was expecting a woman in his place. Tom keeps his identity a secret but soon finds himself increasingly drawn into a twisted, sexually charged game by Guillaume’s aggressive brother (Cardinal), who suspects the truth.”
“It’s hard to say it in a fully modest way, but I was truly puzzled as to how exactly ‘Tom At The Farm’ had never landed distribution in the U.S.,” said Dolan. “To me, it was by far my most accessible film; I mean, it’s a 90-minute psychological thriller, and it’s sort of gory but then very conventional too. I’m obviously psyched that Amplify Releasing has taken ‘Tom’ under their wing. But the topic remains truly relevant — can intolerance and psychological violence ever be dull? — and I’m proud to know the American public will be able to see it. And hopefully, like it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLOJpY6DfAE
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Horror Film ‘The Green Inferno’ Finally Gets U.S. Release Date
Eli Roth’s The Green Inferno will finally be released in the U.S. on September 25, 2015 in collaboration with Universal Pictures and High Top Releasing. The companies will debut The Green Inferno on approximately 1,000 screens.
The Green Inferno premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.
In The Green Inferno, a group of student activists travels to the Amazon to save the rain forest and soon discover that they are not alone, and that no good deed goes unpunished.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fyb8vW6Y8
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Musical Comedy LUCKY STIFF Sets NYC Release Date + Day And Date Release
LUCKY STIFF will be released in New York City on July 24th, 2015, and also available to all U.S. and Canadian cable, satellite and digital platforms for a simultaneous day and date release.
The film is directed by Christopher Ashley (Tony nominated Broadway director of MEMPHIS, XANADU, ROCKY HORROR SHOW) with a screenplay and lyrics and music by the Tony Award winners and Academy Award nominated composer-lyricist team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (RAGTIME, ROCKY THE MUSICAL, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. The film is produced by Victor Symris (PSYCHO BEACH PARTY) and J. Todd Harris (Broadway’s DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, off Broadway’s HEAHERS THE MUSICAL, Academy nominated THE KIDS ARE ALLRIGHT, BOTTLE SHOCK.)
The film stars Jason Alexander (SEINFELD, Broadway’s FISH IN THE DARK), Nikki M. James (Tony Award winner for THE BOOK OF MORMON), Pamela Shaw (SCARCITY -HILLTOWN PLAYS (Obie 2014) MASKS OUTRAGEOUS, THE WHISTLEBLOWER, WALTER), Dennis Farina (LAW AND ORDER, EMPIRE FALLS) and Dominic Marsh (The Royal Shakespeare Company), Cheyenne Jackson (XANADU, ALL SHOOK UP, LOVE IS STRANGE) and KATE SHINDLE (LAW AND ORDER, CAPOTE).
Lucky Stiff is a musical comedy with a romantic heart. A young down and out British show salesman named harry Witherspoon (Dominic Marsh) takes his dead American uncle (Don Amendolia) to Monte Carlo for the best time of his life – a week of fun, dancing, gambling and sun. If the young man fulfills his dead uncle’s will to the letter, he will inherit 6 million dollars left to him. If he doesn’t, the money will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. As Harry races from casino to nightclub to beach and bedroom with his dead uncle, he is chased by a desperate put-upon optometrist (Jason Alexander) his controlling myopic trigger happy sister (Pamela Shaw) a mysterious Italian playboy (Dennis Farina) as well as young woman from Brooklyn (Nikki M James) dead set on getting that money for he dogs. Guns go off, disguises go on, champagne corks pop romance blossoms, dogs bark and everyone sings!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXdT4FGiUnw
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Sports Documentary THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM Set For One-Day Release in Theaters
The documentary THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM, written and directed by Jon Long, is gearing up for a national one-day theatrical event release on June 10, 2015 in more than 75 theaters. The Earth Network, Abramorama, GrindTV, Tugg and Vimeo are collaborating on the US theatrical release.
The film’s VOD release in the United States will be on August 10, 2015. eONE and Universal are releasing the film on VOD across Canada and the around the world on August 10th as well.
THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM is described as a visceral, visual experience chronicling how an electrifying new world came about through pure energy and imagination and the infinite possibilities of self-expression available to anyone willing to drop in. Told through the eyes, and the footage, of some of the brightest pioneers, legends, visionaries and champions of surfing, snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking and more.
The film features interviews with skate board legend Tony Hawk, world champion surfer Kelly Slater, the modern day “Evel Knievel” Robbie Maddison, climbing icon Ron Kauk, windsurfing world Champion Robby Naish, world champion paddle boarder Kai Lenny, world champion long boarder Kelia Moniz, street skater Nyjah Huston, X Games Gold Medalist Tom Schaar, as well as the Godfather of the Action sports film Warren Miller, the father of the mountain bike Gary Fisher, Quiksilver founder and surfer Bob McKnight, filmmaker Bruce Brown, and rock climber and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, among others.
Filmmaker Jon Long stated, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with this group to bring ’The Search for Freedom’ to such a wide audience. This unique collaboration is a wonderful achievement for an independent film.”
https://vimeo.com/129512882
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Documentary THE OUTRAGEOUS SOPHIE TUCKER Sets July 2015 Release Date
THE OUTRAGEOUS SOPHIE TUCKER, directed by Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker William Gazecki, and produced and written by Susan and Lloyd Ecker, will be released in the US via Menemsha Films. SOPHIE TUCKER was the Opening Night film at the 2015 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival and screened at many other film festivals, and will open on July 24th at Cinema Village and JCC Manhattan in New York, as well as at the Royal and Town Center in Los Angeles and at Westpark 8 in Irvine. Many other cities will open the film on the same day.
THE OUTRAGEOUS SOPHIE TUCKER is the rags to riches story of one of old time showbiz’s biggest personalities. From 1906 through the beginning of television, Sophie Tucker and her bawdy, brash, and risqué songs paved the way for performers such as Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Bette Midler, Cher, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé.
After eight years spent reading hundreds of Tucker’s personal scrapbooks, visiting fourteen archives, and interviewing dozens of family, friends, and fellow icons of stage and screen, Susan and Lloyd Ecker have completed their comprehensive documentary about the Last of the Red Hot Mamas.
“Sophie was like the Forrest Gump of the first half of the 1900s,” says producer Susan Ecker. “She was close friends with seven U.S. presidents, King George VI, young Queen Elizabeth, Charlie Chaplin, J. Edgar Hoover, Al Capone, Judy Garland, Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra and every other notable of her era.”
“After immersing ourselves in Sophie’s 400+ personal scrapbooks and meeting all of Tucker’s surviving friends and family,” says producer Lloyd Ecker, “this film biography is the complete uncensored tale of this vaudeville, Broadway, radio, television and Hollywood legend. Though she obsessively documented her life, Sophie loved to exaggerate for dramatic effect. Over the years, she told multiple versions of each important event. At the end, not even Sophie knew the difference between truth and tall tale”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyUlZm4O4yE
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Award-Winning Actress Cicely Tyson to be Honored by “I Have A Dream” Foundation
Actress Cicely Tyson will be presented with the Eugene M. Lang Lifetime Achievement Award by the “I Have A Dream” Foundation (IHDF) at their annual Spirit of the Dream Gala. Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins will present the award. The 2015 Spirit of the Dream Gala will take place on June 9 at Gotham Hall in New York City.
Through the creation of the Cicely Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts, Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson has played an enormous role in nurturing the artistic talents of low-income students. The beloved actress is most known for her award-winning roles in films including Sounder, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittmanand The Help as well as television programs including Roots and How to Get Away with Murder.
“We are so pleased to recognize Cicely Tyson with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” commented “I Have A Dream” Foundation President and CEO Donna Lawrence. “Throughout her trail-blazing career, Ms. Tyson has inspired countless students to follow their artistic dreams, culminating in the foundation of her Cicely Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts. She is a perfect representative of the organization’s ideals and mission as established by Eugene Lang and is an inspiration to us all.”
Founded by philanthropist Eugene M. Lang in 1981, the “I Have A Dream” Foundation works to address one of the most critical issues of our time – the harsh reality that over 16 million children in America are living in poverty. IHDF provides comprehensive support services to low-income students from elementary through high school, along with guaranteed tuition support for college. Since its launch, IHDF has helped level the playing field for America’s poor children by supporting more than 16,000 Dreamers (students) across the country. Ninety percent of the foundation’s Dreamers graduate high school and complete college at more than 2 times the rate of their low-income peers, enabling them to acquire the economic, social and cultural capital they need to realize their potential.
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8 Classic Films from Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation to Screen at 2015 Seattle International Film Festival
Eight classic films from Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation will screen at this year’s 2015 Seattle International Film Festival running May 14 through June 7, 2015. Taking place during the final week of the Festival are the North American premieres of two restored films: 1966’s Black Girl (La Noire de…) (pictured above) from “the father of African cinema” Ousmane Sembène on June 1 and 1978’s Alyam, Alyam from Moroccan master Ahmed El Maanoui on June 7.
Established in 1990 by Martin Scorsese, The Film Foundation is dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history and has helped to restore over 620 films in the last 25 years.
Carl Spence, SIFF’s Artistic Director, says, “Martin Scorsese has been shining a light on the urgent work of film preservation through The Film Foundation for 25 years. Through his efforts, we are able to publicly showcase these films from around the world that audiences would not otherwise have a chance to see projected on a big screen. The enthusiastic response from SIFF audiences is a testament to our belief that movie lovers from all walks of life want to experience films in cinemas. It is also fitting that we are presenting the North American premieres of two films from Africa – it pairs nicely with the 12 contemporary features being presented in our African Pictures spotlight.”
Jennifer Ahn, Managing Director of The Film Foundation, says, “We are delighted that the Seattle International Film Festival is focusing on the importance of film preservation with its tribute to The Film Foundation’s 25th Anniversary. We’re especially pleased that the festival is presenting two remarkable works of global cinema: Black Girl (1966), directed by Senegal’s Ousmane Sembène and Alyam, Alyam (1978) by Moroccan filmmaker Ahmed El Maanouni. These films were restored through The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, and we welcome this opportunity to collaborate with SIFF on their international premieres.”
Still to play:
Alyam, Alyam
Morocco | 1978 | 80 minutes | Ahmed El Maanouni
Following his father’s death, Abdelwahad is expected to provide for his mother and his seven brothers. But faced with the cycle of poverty that rural farmers seem doomed to repeat, he dares to hope for something better. Restoration by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory.
Also played at SIFF 2015:
Black Girl
Senegal | 1966 | 65 minutes | Ousmane Sembène
This 1966 film explores the complex dynamics and larger post-colonial implications that arise between a young Senegalese maid and the French family that employs her. This quiet, observational drama was esteemed African filmmaker Ousmane Sembène’s first feature film. Restored by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory.
Caught
USA | 1949 | 88 minutes | Max Ophüls
A model (Barbara Bel Geddes), a sociopathic millionaire (Robert Ryan), and a sympathetic pediatrician (James Mason) engage in a fraught romantic power struggle in Max Ophüls’ 1949 noir, only one of four movies the esteemed director made in the United States.
The Color of the Pomegranates
Armenia | 1969 | 77 minutes | Sergei Parajanov
Sergei Parajanov’s empirical masterpiece loosely follows the life of Sayat Nova, “King of Song,” an Armenian poet and musician born in the 18th century, through vibrant sets and costumes and hypnotic shots. This colorful and avant-garde masterpiece provides an utterly transformative cinematic experience.
The Dark Mirror
USA | 1946 | 85 minutes | Robert Siodmak
Robert Siodmak’s 1946 psychological thriller follows a pair of identical twins with dueling personalities, one of which is a suspect in the murder of a doctor. The Dark Mirror dips into terrifying evil doppelganger territory, while at the same time hitting all the disturbing aspects of an effective melodrama.
The Old Dark House
USA | 1932 | 71 minutes | James Whale
Long thought a lost film, this cult masterpiece from director James Whale (Frankenstein) is a twisted gothic thriller, equal parts macabre nightmare and camp farce, about three lost travelers who seek shelter in a crumbling Welsh manor. 35mm restoration by the Library of Congress with funding provided by The Film Foundation.
Rebel Without a Cause
USA | 1955 | 111 minutes | Nicholas Ray
That iconic red motorcycle jacket. An apron-wearing father. The brutal intensity of James Dean’s face, and Natalie Wood’s nurturing touch. This classic drama by renowned director Nicolas Ray is perhaps the perfectly crafted teen angst film, catapulting Dean’s short-lived film career and guaranteed to tear you apart.
The Red Shoes
United Kingdom | 1948 | 133 minutes | Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Moira Shearer stars in this seminal 1948 drama from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, one of the most highly regarded dance films in cinema history, about a young woman who works her way up the ladder of a prestigious ballet company.
Playing as part of STG Presents Trader Joe’s Silent Movie Mondays in June:
The Mark of Zorro (d: Fred Niblo, 1920)
My Best Girl (d: Sam Taylor, 1927)
The Unholy Three (d: Tod Browning, 1925)
Snow White (d: J. Searle Dawley, 1916)
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2015 Stony Brook Film Festival Film Lineup, Opens with ‘The Man from Oran’
The 2015 Stony Brook Film Festival unveiled its schedule of films for its 20th anniversary edition, taking place from Thursday, July 16 through Saturday, July 25, 2015. The schedule of films is being announced today on the festival’s website, and features thirty-four films (19 features and 15 shorts), chosen out of more than 700 entries.
Many alums of the film festival are returning with films this year. The short documentary Coaching Colburn was created by Jeff Bemiss and his film students at Trinity College, with a story about a man with Fragile X Syndrome. Mr. Bemiss screened the film The Book and the Rose at Stony Brook in 2002. Menemsha Films returns with the film Dough, about a Jewish baker and his young Muslim apprentice, and Shooting Star of the Netherlands brings Painkillers to the Festival, a poignant story about a teenage musician.Producer of To Life!, Alice Brauner, was also the producer of Stony Brook’s 2012 Audience Choice-Best Feature, Wunderkinder. Peter Miller of AKA Doc Pomus fame, the 2012 Grand Prize winner, brings a new documentary to Stony Brook Film Festival this year, the World Premiere of Projections of America. During World War II, short documentaries about American life were created by filmmakers led by Academy Award winning screenwriter Robert Riskin. The U.S. Office of War Information disseminated them to be shown to audiences around the world. Projections of America tells the story of the production.
Opening night brings a dramatic feature film from Algeria, The Man from Oran (pictured above), with Lyes Salem, director, writer and star. In Arabic and French, it is a U.S. Premiere. Set largely in the years after Algeria gained independence from France, it explores the themes of friendship, idealism, politics and betrayal.
Closing Night screens The Passion of Augustine, a film from French Canada about a small convent school that has become a musical treasure. Mother Augustine is played by Céline Bonnier, who starred in the film Mommy is at the Hairdresser’s, a feature at Stony Brook in 2012. Both films were directed by Léa Pool.
American Independent features include the romantic comedy, This Isn’t Funny, starring Paul Ashton and Katie Page, who are the scriptwriters and co-producers. Paul Ashton directed the entertaining story about a stand up comedienne coping with an anxiety disorder. Feature film Jackie & Ryan stars Katherine Heigel and Ben Barnes, and is directed by Ami Canaan Mann, who was inspired by street musicians she met in Austin, Texas at South by Southwest Festival. Jackie & Ryan centers in the picturesque mountains of Ogden, Utah, where a musician and train hopper meets a former singer at a crossroads in her life. Wildike, written and directed by Frank Hall Green, stars Ella Purnell as a troubled teenager who is sent to live with her uncle in Alaska. Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, Mad Men) and Brian Gerahty (The Hurt Locker) also star. Christine Vachon, film professor at Stony Brook Southampton’s MFA in Film program, is among the producers of Wildike, along with her company Killer Films. Documentary features include Projections of America by Peter Miller and The Best of Enemies, a documentary about the television debates between William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal in 1968.
Audiences will see the many works of true indie spirit in which filmmakers do it all. Three films in the Festival have the actor, producer, and writer as one and the same. The Man from Oran by Lyes Salem, This Isn’t Funny by Paul Ashton and Katie Page, andThe Challenger by Kent Moran are ambitious films where their creators have a hand in all aspects of the film. For the documentaryNefertiti’s Daughters writer/director/producer Mark Nickolas was also one of the Directors of Photography.
Lyes Salem of The Man from Oran will be attending the Thursday, July 16 Opening Night screening. Painkillers producers Maria Peters and Dave Schram of Shooting Star will be attending the Friday, July 17 screening. Paul Ashton and Katie Page of This Isn’t Funny will be on board for Friday, July 17 as well.
Saturday, July 18, the writer and director of Henri Henri, Martin Talbot, and actors Andres Trelles Turgeonand Sophie Desmarais will be attending the screening. Jackie & Ryan’s Katherine Heigel and Ben Barnes have been invited to attend the Festival on Saturday, July 18, and the director Ami Canaan Mann is expected to attend. Sunday, July 19 the Festival will host Nefertiti’s Daughters director Mark Nickolas.
On Sunday, July 19, the screening of To Life will have producer Alice Brauner on hand, along with Uwe Janson, the director. The film that follows it, Wildlike, will be represented by director Frank Hall Green. Thicker than Paint writer/director Maryam Sepehri is expected to attend the Festival for her film on Tuesday, July 21, as is Kent Moran of The Challenger. Peter Miller will represent his documentary Projections of America, a U.S. premiere on Wednesday, July 22, and the director and cast members of One for the Road are expected to attend Stony Brook from Mexico. On closing night, Saturday, July 25, Céline Bonnier of The Passion of Augustine will be attending.
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Documentary film I AM CHRIS FARLEY Sets Summer 2015 Release Date
Virgil Films will release the documentary film I AM CHRIS FARLEY, described as the definitive biographical film about the late comedy star, featuring his co-stars and colleagues such as Christina Applegate, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, David Spade, and many others. The new film, directed by Brent Hodge and Derik Murray, will open in key markets in the US nationwide in the summer of 2015, and will debut on Spike on Monday, August 10 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, to be followed by Video-On-Demand availability.
The film, from the directors of I Am Evel Knievel, A Brony Tale, and the upcoming Johnny Cash – American Rebel, tells Chris Farley’s story from his early days in Madison, Wisconsin and at Marquette University, through his work at the legendary club Second City, to his rapid rise to the top of the comedy world on “Saturday Night Live” and in hit films like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep.
Sharing insights into the beloved funnyman are such co-stars and colleagues as Christina Applegate, Tom Arnold, Dan Aykroyd, Bo Derek, Pat Finn, Jon Lovitz, Lorne Michaels, Jay Mohr, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Bob Saget, Adam Sandler, Will Sasso, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Brian Stack and Fred Wolf. The filmmakers also speak to Farley’s four siblings, including his brother Kevin, a comedian and actor, and his brother Tom Jr., who wrote the biography “The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts.”
“Chris Farley’s talent knew no bounds”, stated co-director and producer Derik Murray, “A fearless performer who sought only to please an audience, he left behind a remarkable body of work, and we are proud to present his story with the support of an iconic cast that knew and loved Chris.”
Added Virgil Films’ Joe Amodei, “I AM CHRIS FARLEY reveals the real man behind the comic genius – and poignantly reminds us of the great work that went left undone.”
With the full cooperation and participation of the Farley family, I AM CHRIS FARLEY showcases the performer’s most memorable characters and skits from television and film, paired with iconic photographs, home movies, family snapshots and personal artifacts, to fully round out the story of this comedy legend – a bear of a man who nevertheless had remarkable grace and physicality. Clips from Farley’s most memorable performances fill the documentary, from his side-splitting Chippendales audition alongside Patrick Swayze, to his comically ill-fated salesman in Tommy Boy, to his bombastic diatribes as Matt Foley, the motivational speaker who “lives in a van down by the river!”
Farley lived his life full speed and committed to make everyone around him laugh out loud, and I AM CHRIS FARLEY will tell his hilarious, touching and wildly entertaining story for the first time ever.
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Russian film CHAGALL-MALEVICH Sets US Theatrical Release Date
After having screened at numerous international film festivals including Palm Springs, Montreal, Haifa, Moscow, Busan, and LA Jewish Film Festival, the Russian film CHAGALL-MALEVICH, directed by Alexander Mitta finally sets a U.S. theatrical release date. CHAGALL-MALEVICH will open at Cinema Village in New York on June 12 and at Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills and at Town Center 5 in Encino, CA on June 19.
The artistic and political revolution of early 20th century Russia is mythologized in CHAGALL-MALEVICH, a magical period drama about the uneasy relationship between two artistic geniuses.
Inspired by the memoirs of Marc Chagall and those of his contemporaries, the film blends fact and folklore to evoke the return of the iconic Jewish artist (portrayed by Leonid Bichevin “Cargo 200”) to his childhood home of Vitebsk. Having left behind immense success in Paris, Chagall returns to the Russian empire in 1917 in hope to marry the love of his life Bella Rosenfeld (Kristina Schneidermann); he produces copious paintings and establishes the Academy of Modern Art. A rivalry develops with abstract painter Kazimir Malevich (Anatoliy Belyy), invited to teach at the art school. As Bella rekindles a childhood friendship with military Red Commissar Naum (Semyon Shkalikov), Chagall competes for the affections of his muse and future wife. As the October Revolution sweeps across Russia, historical events intrude on personal struggles and upend the quiet provincial life in Vitebsk.
Brimming with surrealistic imagery from the paintings of Chagall and Malevich (over 140 paintings were used in the film), this sumptuous melodrama marks veteran Russian filmmaker Alexander Mitta’s return after a decade-long hiatus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enaho11_x8Q
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2015 Portland Jewish Film Festival Film Lineup + Trailers
The 2015 Portland Jewish Film Festival will screen 18 feature films including: EAST JERUSALEM/WEST JERUSALEM (pictured above), a riveting documentary about Israeli musician David Broza and his efforts to bridge Israeli and Palestinian tensions through music, THE MYSTERY OF HAPPINESS, director Daniel Burman’s delightful hybridization of buddy movie, detective film, and romantic comedy tropes, the Opening Night selection MAGIC MEN, a road trip comedy that pairs an aging atheist Holocaust survivor with his estranged Hasidic rapper son, and DOUGH, a comedy set in a failing bakery where intergenerational and cross cultural solutions just might save the day.
The 23rd edition of the Portland Jewish Film Festival is produced by the Northwest Film Center and co-presented with the Institute for Judaic Studies and takes place June 14 to 28, 2015.Complete Film listings: MAGIC MEN https://vimeo.com/68012664 THE MUSES OF ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER (preceded by REVERENCE) https://youtu.be/MZfkOHfOkwE A PLACE IN HEAVEN https://youtu.be/TGcwONCKks0 TO LIFE https://youtu.be/8hYSCSHH7rM THE DOVE FLYER https://youtu.be/W_Uq68Ql9f8 DOUGH SECRETS OF WAR https://youtu.be/l4Oc187S7OU EAST JERUSALEM/WEST JERUSALEM https://youtu.be/VnVNgIW4ZPc ALMOST FRIENDS https://youtu.be/p_GBYHqPf58 A BORROWED IDENTITY (AKA DANCING ARABS) https://youtu.be/TW0Jjf3RrME THEODORE BIKEL: IN THE SHOES OF SHOLEM ALEICHEM https://vimeo.com/114923514 Trailer for SHOLEM ALEICHEM: LAUGHING IN THE DARKNESS https://youtu.be/-Z6cJ2_RLdA RAISE THE ROOF https://vimeo.com/107332820 THE MYSTERY OF HAPPINESS https://youtu.be/svx8CyZTkWg LET’S GO https://youtu.be/7wK_7PG7_4g RUN BOY RUN https://youtu.be/njjdP3gZ_pk THE ZIONIST IDEA 24 DAYS https://youtu.be/Sg4xo2pYRdI