This past October, Kino Lorber picked up the distribution rights to Oren Shai’s debut feature film “The Frontier,” a noir western about a drifter who starts working at a diner on the outskirts of Phoenix only to discover its inhabitants are all accomplices in a million-dollar heist. She soon plans to steal the cash for herself. The film stars Jocelin Donahue (“The House of the Devil”), Kelly Lynch (“Drugstore Cowboy”), Jim Beaver (“Deadwood”), Izabella Miko (“Step Up All In”), Jamie Harris (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”); Aj Bowen (“The Sacrament”), and Liam Aiken (“Ned Rifle”). Now, the film is available on VOD and digital platforms. Watch two exclusive clips from the film below.
Read More: ‘The Frontier’ Exclusive Trailer: A Female Drifter Hatches a Plan To Steal Stolen Cash From a Gang of Thieves
“With ‘The Frontier’ I wanted to capture the feeling of reading an old vintage paperback,...
Read More: ‘The Frontier’ Exclusive Trailer: A Female Drifter Hatches a Plan To Steal Stolen Cash From a Gang of Thieves
“With ‘The Frontier’ I wanted to capture the feeling of reading an old vintage paperback,...
- 11/18/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Oren Shai’s short films have played festivals across the world and garnered praise along the way, but now his debut film will soon receive a theatrical and VOD release. “The Frontier” stars Jocelin Donahue (“The House of the Devil”) as Laine, a drifter on the run from crimes she has committed who lands in a deserted motel on the outskirts of Phoenix. She acquires a job from the owner Luanne (Kelly Lynch) to work in the diner but soon discovers that the regular clientele are all accomplices in a million-dollar heist. Laine plans to steal from the gang of thieves before they discover her true identity. The film co-stars Jim Beaver (“Deadwood”), Izabella Miko (“Coyote Ugly”), Jamie Harris (“Knight of Cups”), Aj Bowen (“The Sacrament”), and Liam Aiken (“Ned Rifle”). Watch an exclusive trailer for the film below.
Read More: Alchemy Acquires Noir Thriller ‘The Frontier’
Produced by Rocking Films and Dana Lustig Productions,...
Read More: Alchemy Acquires Noir Thriller ‘The Frontier’
Produced by Rocking Films and Dana Lustig Productions,...
- 10/17/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Duncan Jones has begun principal photography in Berlin on Netflix’s upcoming 2017 thriller.
Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux star in the project about a mute man searching for a missing person in the year 2052 while duelling with two villains.
Jones co-wrote the Mute script with Michael Robert Johnson. The filmmaker’s longtime business partner Stuart Fenegan produces for Liberty Films.
Charles J.D. Schlissel serves as executive producer along with Henning Molfenter, Charlie Woebcken and Christoph Fisser of Studio Babelsberg.
Mt. Philo Films has cast Pierson Fode and Sedale Threatt Jr. in It’s Time. Fritz Mitchell is directing from a script by Jeff Sarokin the true story of a friendship that arose from a tragic accident during a 1989 American football college game between Vanderbilt and Ole Miss. Mitchell’s Mt. Philo Films partner Wendy Yamano produces.Rlj Entertainment’s Acorn brand has licensed all Us television, digital and home entertainment rights to ITV Studios’ six-part...
Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux star in the project about a mute man searching for a missing person in the year 2052 while duelling with two villains.
Jones co-wrote the Mute script with Michael Robert Johnson. The filmmaker’s longtime business partner Stuart Fenegan produces for Liberty Films.
Charles J.D. Schlissel serves as executive producer along with Henning Molfenter, Charlie Woebcken and Christoph Fisser of Studio Babelsberg.
Mt. Philo Films has cast Pierson Fode and Sedale Threatt Jr. in It’s Time. Fritz Mitchell is directing from a script by Jeff Sarokin the true story of a friendship that arose from a tragic accident during a 1989 American football college game between Vanderbilt and Ole Miss. Mitchell’s Mt. Philo Films partner Wendy Yamano produces.Rlj Entertainment’s Acorn brand has licensed all Us television, digital and home entertainment rights to ITV Studios’ six-part...
- 10/12/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.
– L.A.-based outfit Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to Michael O’Shea’s Cannes premiere “The Transfiguration.” The film was sold by Protagonist Pictures at Toronto, and it marks the feature debut of writer-director Michael O’Shea. The atmospheric feature puts a new spin on the vampire movie.
“Mr. O’Shea’s film is a unique hybrid that audiences and critics will be compelled by,” said Strand Releasing’s partner Jon Gerrans, who discovered the film at Cannes. No word yet on release plans.
– Oscilloscope Laboratories has announced that Joel Potrykus’s latest dark comedy, “The Alchemist Cookbook,” will be available worldwide for pay-what-you-wish via BitTorrent Now on October 7, before it screens in select theaters across the country.
– L.A.-based outfit Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to Michael O’Shea’s Cannes premiere “The Transfiguration.” The film was sold by Protagonist Pictures at Toronto, and it marks the feature debut of writer-director Michael O’Shea. The atmospheric feature puts a new spin on the vampire movie.
“Mr. O’Shea’s film is a unique hybrid that audiences and critics will be compelled by,” said Strand Releasing’s partner Jon Gerrans, who discovered the film at Cannes. No word yet on release plans.
– Oscilloscope Laboratories has announced that Joel Potrykus’s latest dark comedy, “The Alchemist Cookbook,” will be available worldwide for pay-what-you-wish via BitTorrent Now on October 7, before it screens in select theaters across the country.
- 9/16/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Paladin has picked up Us rights from CAA to Y Production’s The Ottoman Lieutenant starring Michiel Huisman, Hera Hilmar, Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley.
The World War I-set drama will receive its North American premiere in Toronto on September 13 and Paladin will stage a limited qualifying run in December prior to the release proper in February 2017.
Y Production produced the film in association with Eastern Sunrise Films. Joseph directed from a screenplay by Jeff Stockwell, and Stephen Joel Brown produced.
Gravitas Ventures has secured North American rights from ICM Partners to Katie Holmes’ feature directorial debut All We Had about a struggling mother and daughter who draw strength from each other. Stefania Owen also stars and the film will open day-and-date theatrically and on VOD on December 9.Kino Lorber has acquired all North American rights to director Oren Shai’s debut noir thriller The Frontier by Rocking Films and Dana Lustig Productions. Select theatrical...
The World War I-set drama will receive its North American premiere in Toronto on September 13 and Paladin will stage a limited qualifying run in December prior to the release proper in February 2017.
Y Production produced the film in association with Eastern Sunrise Films. Joseph directed from a screenplay by Jeff Stockwell, and Stephen Joel Brown produced.
Gravitas Ventures has secured North American rights from ICM Partners to Katie Holmes’ feature directorial debut All We Had about a struggling mother and daughter who draw strength from each other. Stefania Owen also stars and the film will open day-and-date theatrically and on VOD on December 9.Kino Lorber has acquired all North American rights to director Oren Shai’s debut noir thriller The Frontier by Rocking Films and Dana Lustig Productions. Select theatrical...
- 9/9/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Read More: Exclusive: Awesome Retro Poster for SXSW Thriller 'The Frontier' Alchemy has acquired "The Frontier," about an outlaw who tries to steal money from a gang of violent thieves. The noir thriller was directed by Oren Shai, who also wrote the screenplay with Webb Wilcoxen. The cast of "Frontier" includes Jocelin Donahue, Kelly Lynch, Jim Beaver, Izabella Miko, Jamie Harris, Liam Aiken, and Aj Bowen. The story follows a desperate young woman as she tries to rip off some thieves at a desert motel called The Frontier. "The Frontier" premiered at SXSW earlier this year. Read More: Magnolia Pictures Acquires Psychological Thriller 'The Ones Below'...
- 11/13/2015
- by Karen Brill
- Indiewire
Alchemy has acquired U.S. distribution rights to The Frontier, director/co-writer Oren Shai’s noir thriller that had its world premiere this year in the Narrative Spotlight section at SXSW. Jocelin Donahue, Kelly Lynch and Jim Beaver star in the story penned by Shai and Webb Wilcoxen about a desperate young woman (Donahue) on the run from the law who discovers a violent gang of thieves at a desert motel and hatches a plan to escape with their stolen cash. Izabella Miko…...
- 11/13/2015
- Deadline
Oren Shai directed the noir starring Jocelin Donahue, Kelly Lynch, and Jim Beaver.
Webb Wilcoxen and Shai co-wrote The Frontier, about a young woman on the run who encounters a violent gang of thieves at a desert motel and hatches a plan to escape with their stolen cash.
Izabella Miko, Jamie Harris, Liam Aiken, and Aj Bowen also star. Dana Lustig produced.
Alchemy brokered the Us deal with Zac Bright and Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content and attorney William Immerman.
Instrum International handles international sales.
Webb Wilcoxen and Shai co-wrote The Frontier, about a young woman on the run who encounters a violent gang of thieves at a desert motel and hatches a plan to escape with their stolen cash.
Izabella Miko, Jamie Harris, Liam Aiken, and Aj Bowen also star. Dana Lustig produced.
Alchemy brokered the Us deal with Zac Bright and Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content and attorney William Immerman.
Instrum International handles international sales.
- 11/13/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Frontier is a blast from the past as far as suspenseful thrillers go, but it’s not an entirely invigorating one. Hitting on a minimalist 70s vibe that’s from a different technological era, filmmaker Oren Shai brushes off a heist story that never really comes together, as we find ourselves stuck in a rickety motel full of overly-suspicious characters. The style wouldn’t be as much of a problem if it were explored with more depth, really digging into the criminal caper on hand, but as it stands, The Frontier feels like a weird stage-play that’s far too separated by vastly different acts. It’s an unfortunate bore, and one that doesn’t beg to hold our attention, which is one of the worst fates a film can suffer.
Jocelin Donahue plays Laine, an independent woman who is fleeing from a death sentence. After stopping in a...
Jocelin Donahue plays Laine, an independent woman who is fleeing from a death sentence. After stopping in a...
- 3/19/2015
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Too Late For Tears: Shai Plumbs the Depths of B-Noir Devices for Punchy Debut
A brunette with bloody fingers shakily inhales the fumes of a cigarette in the opening sequences of Oren Shai’s directorial debut, The Frontier, a title that evokes the desolation of a vintage Western. But this musty, dusty period narrative concerning shady folks doing very bad things in an isolated outpost in the middle of nowhere is a snug throwback to the B film-noirs that used to be spackled into double feature zingers at the local matinee. Not one of Shai’s motley, if generally entertaining crew, qualifies as the proverbial ‘good person,’ but he manages to instill the same sense of investment in a beautiful but morally compromised femme fatale as those films from a bygone era. Though its production value sometimes belies a stingy budget with amateurish sting, Shai manages to distract from...
A brunette with bloody fingers shakily inhales the fumes of a cigarette in the opening sequences of Oren Shai’s directorial debut, The Frontier, a title that evokes the desolation of a vintage Western. But this musty, dusty period narrative concerning shady folks doing very bad things in an isolated outpost in the middle of nowhere is a snug throwback to the B film-noirs that used to be spackled into double feature zingers at the local matinee. Not one of Shai’s motley, if generally entertaining crew, qualifies as the proverbial ‘good person,’ but he manages to instill the same sense of investment in a beautiful but morally compromised femme fatale as those films from a bygone era. Though its production value sometimes belies a stingy budget with amateurish sting, Shai manages to distract from...
- 3/16/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Pictured above is the first poster for Oren Shai's "The Frontier," exclusively on Indiewire. Premiering March 15 in the Narrative Feature section at South By Southwest, "The Frontier" is the story of Laine, a young woman on the run from the law, and the people she finds at an isolated desert motel called The Frontier (like in the movie!). "The Frontier" stars Jocelin Donahue, Kelly Lynch and Jim Beaver. Stills from the film below: Read More: 6 Highlights From the 2015 SXSW Lineup Read More: Exclusive: Grow Up Baumbach With A24's New Restrospective Series...
- 3/5/2015
- by Elizabeth Logan
- Indiewire
The 2015 SXSW Film Festival will be running from March 13th through March 21st in Austin, Texas and the first wave of selections were announced today to get attendees excited for all the amazing films coming our way next month. And while horror fans have to wait until next week for the announcement of the Midnighters slate, here’s a look at some of the genre-related titles already revealed amidst SXSW’s other film categories for this year.
Narrative Feature Competition
Manson Family Vacation
Director/Screenwriter: J. Davis
The story of two brothers: one who’s devoted to his family, the other who’s obsessed with the Manson Family. Cast: Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Leonora Pitts, Tobin Bell, Adam Chernick, Davie-Blue. (World Premiere)
Headliners
Ex Machina
Director/Screenwriter: Alex Garland
Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the stylish and cerebral thriller Ex Machina, starring Domhnall Gleeson,...
Narrative Feature Competition
Manson Family Vacation
Director/Screenwriter: J. Davis
The story of two brothers: one who’s devoted to his family, the other who’s obsessed with the Manson Family. Cast: Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Leonora Pitts, Tobin Bell, Adam Chernick, Davie-Blue. (World Premiere)
Headliners
Ex Machina
Director/Screenwriter: Alex Garland
Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the stylish and cerebral thriller Ex Machina, starring Domhnall Gleeson,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in TrainwreckPhoto: Universal Pictures With Sundance just wrapping up and Berlin starting up in a few days, we are now immersed in the year-long barrage of film festivals. One such festival in South By Southwest. A few weeks back they announced the first seven films of their program, including the opening night film Brand: A Second Coming. Today, they have revealed the rest of the features to be shown in March (except for the midnight program), and some of it has me very excited. The bigger titles announced do not do much for me. Paul Feig's Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart starrer Get Hard leave a lot to be desired in terms of anticipation, as does a work in progress cut of Judd Apatow's latest film Trainwreck. I'm guessing an Apatow work in progress is probably around three and a half hours.
- 2/3/2015
- by Mike Shutt
- Rope of Silicon
South by Southwest, the multi-faceted film, music and technology festival held annually in Austin, TX will feature such upcoming films as Paul Feig’s Spy, David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn, Alex Gibney’s documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and Ondi Timoner’s Russell Brand profile Brand: A Second Coming as headliners in this year’s film festival lineup.
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
• Bruce Willis (Die Hard) is set to star in the action thriller Captive, taking over for the previously rumored Arnold Schwarzenegger. Simon Brand (Unknown) is directing with a script by Benjamin van der Even (Che: Part Two) and Kario Salem (Chasing Mavericks) from a story by Nicolai Fuglsig. Willis will play a real estate developer who gets kidnapped and held for ransom while at work in Brazil. Production is set to begin in March. [Deadline]
• Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) will play the woman who claimed to be the Grand Russian Duchess Anastasia, in Duchess. The film will be directed by Arie Posin...
• Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) will play the woman who claimed to be the Grand Russian Duchess Anastasia, in Duchess. The film will be directed by Arie Posin...
- 1/10/2014
- by Jake Perlman
- EW - Inside Movies
The 2nd annual PollyGrind assaults Las Vegas during an epic length film festival that runs Oct. 8-17 at Theatre 7 with enough sleaze and violence to make Sin City residents feel right at home.
Actually, the fest does open up on the 7th with a concert at Neon Venus with local acts like Monster Zero, Creepersin and many more.
However, the film portion of the fest opens on the 8th with Stuart Simpson‘s acclaimed Australian gorefest El Monstro Del Mar!, one of the best Russ Meyer/Roger Corman mash-ups with a Down Under twist. Read the Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film review of this gem here.
Other Bad Lit favorites in the lineup are Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson‘s The Taint, which is still completely grossing out audiences on the festival circuit, and The Uh-Oh Show, the splatter-filled horror comedy by the Godfather of Gore himself Herschell Gordon Lewis.
Actually, the fest does open up on the 7th with a concert at Neon Venus with local acts like Monster Zero, Creepersin and many more.
However, the film portion of the fest opens on the 8th with Stuart Simpson‘s acclaimed Australian gorefest El Monstro Del Mar!, one of the best Russ Meyer/Roger Corman mash-ups with a Down Under twist. Read the Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film review of this gem here.
Other Bad Lit favorites in the lineup are Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson‘s The Taint, which is still completely grossing out audiences on the festival circuit, and The Uh-Oh Show, the splatter-filled horror comedy by the Godfather of Gore himself Herschell Gordon Lewis.
- 10/6/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
We recently told you about the upcoming PollyGrind Film Festival, one of the premiere grindhouse film festivals, that's set to celebrate all-things B-Movie style in Las Vegas this October. The madman behind the festival, Chad Clinton Freeman, announced today this year's PollyGrind line-up and it looks pretty sweet!
And not only is PollyGrind celebrating films, the fest is also celebrating several indie music acts slated to perform during the fest, a Zombiepalooza celebration and a whole lot more! Read on for all the details for the Second Annual PollyGrind Film Festival!
From the Press Release:
It's been called "the key festival for indie cult filmmakers to land distribution deals." Its founder and programmer has been called the "new champion of unabashed B-movie sleaze." Those praises might seem a bit outlandish, but with the official announcement of the PollyGrind Film Festival's schedule, it's easy to see where they come from.
Chad Clinton Freeman...
And not only is PollyGrind celebrating films, the fest is also celebrating several indie music acts slated to perform during the fest, a Zombiepalooza celebration and a whole lot more! Read on for all the details for the Second Annual PollyGrind Film Festival!
From the Press Release:
It's been called "the key festival for indie cult filmmakers to land distribution deals." Its founder and programmer has been called the "new champion of unabashed B-movie sleaze." Those praises might seem a bit outlandish, but with the official announcement of the PollyGrind Film Festival's schedule, it's easy to see where they come from.
Chad Clinton Freeman...
- 9/2/2011
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
Why Watch? Because sometimes you’re in the mood for a Women In Prison film. The modern world isn’t too keen on these types of flicks, but at least someone is. This short has all the soap opera stylings and far-too-attractive convicts that honor the past, while utilizing the tech of today for a slight update. The acting is exactly as stiff as it needs to be without being wooden, and the existential crisis is given even more weight with the claustrophobic way that it’s all shot. What happens when a prisoner slowly spirals to the end of her mental and medical rope? What Will It Cost? Just 14 minutes of your time. Does it get better any better than that? Check out Condemned for yourself: The Laundromat (2010) Written and Directed by: Oren Shai Starring: Margaret Anne Florence, Ashlie Atkinson, and Aprella Trust us. You have time for more short films.
- 4/9/2011
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
While writing my critique of “Sucker Punch” I found myself wondering exactly what the film would have needed to effectively deal with its representation of imprisoned women. Well, that and what could have made it into a good movie. Then I watched Oren Shai’s short film “Condemned,” available for streaming on its website, and it became pretty clear. This short film has everything that “Sucker Punch” was lacking, the tone that Zack Snyder’s disaster desperately needed to succeed. There’s real character development in this short, and within the first few minutes we care more about death row inmate Kim Novak…...
- 3/25/2011
- Spout
Been meaning to link to this for a few weeks now, but Rupert Owen has posted up the slides from a talk he gave about starting a viable streaming video business. Of course, these would be much better with Owen talking along with them, but still very interesting to flip through and gives much to think about.News worth rejoicing over: Waylon Bacon’s putting together a compilation DVD of his amazing short films. He picked the best picture for the cover, too.Felix Vasquez Jr. of Cinema Crazed recently interviewed two of my favorite documentary people, Vic Zimet and Stephanie Silber of Random Lunacy fame.For the L Magazine, Mark Asch has a quick round-up of some of this year’s SXSW films, including the much anticipated The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye by Marie Losier. Asch says it’s “as intensely familiar to the doc’s core...
- 3/20/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
A pretty female inmate is given a death sentence in Oren Shai‘s moody noir short film Condemned, embedded above. But, the twist here is that Inmate #1031 (Margaret Anne Florence) isn’t being sent to the electric chair by the state. Instead, she’s going to get the shiv from another prisoner if she dares to fall asleep in her cell. The lesson: Never snitch, and be particularly careful if the warden tries to trick you into doing so.
This is a simple film with Shai focusing almost exclusively on mood and character. All the action takes place in a single prison cell without much backstory to explain the events that we’re witnessing. That’s good because the backstory is superfluous. Shai isn’t trying to reinvent a genre. This is a tribute to classic women in prison movies.
Of course, there’s going to be trouble in prison.
This is a simple film with Shai focusing almost exclusively on mood and character. All the action takes place in a single prison cell without much backstory to explain the events that we’re witnessing. That’s good because the backstory is superfluous. Shai isn’t trying to reinvent a genre. This is a tribute to classic women in prison movies.
Of course, there’s going to be trouble in prison.
- 1/11/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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