Berlin-based Picture Tree Intl. has acquired the international sales rights, excluding the Nordic countries, for the Finnish daughter-father comedy “Butterflies” (Perhoset).
“Butterflies” is directed by Jenni Toivoniemi, based on a screenplay by Anna Brotkin.
Set against the backdrop of Finland’s vibrant Tango Festival, “Butterflies” follows the journey of Siiri, a world-weary 29-year-old woman, and her relentlessly optimistic father, Petri, as they navigate their own truths amidst the chaos. Ultimately, the true dance they engage in is one of self-discovery.
Siiri is played by Aksa Korttila, whose credits include “Sibelius Continuum,” “The Sixth Time” and “The Year of the Wolf.” Petri is played by Jani Volanen, who was in “Hatching,” “Homecoming” and “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants.” Leea Klemola, who appeared in “The Mine,” “The Midwife” and “Last Cowboy Standing,” plays Siiri’s politician boss, who is in the midst of a marital crises.
“Butterflies” is produced by Miia Haavisto of Tekele Productions,...
“Butterflies” is directed by Jenni Toivoniemi, based on a screenplay by Anna Brotkin.
Set against the backdrop of Finland’s vibrant Tango Festival, “Butterflies” follows the journey of Siiri, a world-weary 29-year-old woman, and her relentlessly optimistic father, Petri, as they navigate their own truths amidst the chaos. Ultimately, the true dance they engage in is one of self-discovery.
Siiri is played by Aksa Korttila, whose credits include “Sibelius Continuum,” “The Sixth Time” and “The Year of the Wolf.” Petri is played by Jani Volanen, who was in “Hatching,” “Homecoming” and “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants.” Leea Klemola, who appeared in “The Mine,” “The Midwife” and “Last Cowboy Standing,” plays Siiri’s politician boss, who is in the midst of a marital crises.
“Butterflies” is produced by Miia Haavisto of Tekele Productions,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Finnish writer-director Selma Vilhunen and producer Venla Hellstedt will join Dionysos Films from the start of 2024.
Finnish writer-director Selma Vilhunen and producer Venla Hellstedt, who were previously company leaders at Helsinki-based Tuffi Films, will join Dionysos Films from the start of 2024.
Tuffi has produced titles such as Stupid Young Heart (Berlinale Crystal Bear winner), Hobbyhorse Revolution and the 2014 Academy Award nominated short Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? – all directed by Vilhunen. In addition to Vilhunen’s works, Tuffi’s other credits include Jenni Toivoniemi’s Games People Play, the feminist omnibus Force of Habit and Marja Pyykkö’s youth film Sihja,...
Finnish writer-director Selma Vilhunen and producer Venla Hellstedt, who were previously company leaders at Helsinki-based Tuffi Films, will join Dionysos Films from the start of 2024.
Tuffi has produced titles such as Stupid Young Heart (Berlinale Crystal Bear winner), Hobbyhorse Revolution and the 2014 Academy Award nominated short Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? – all directed by Vilhunen. In addition to Vilhunen’s works, Tuffi’s other credits include Jenni Toivoniemi’s Games People Play, the feminist omnibus Force of Habit and Marja Pyykkö’s youth film Sihja,...
- 11/23/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Finnish writer-director Selma Vilhunen and producer Venla Hellstedt will join Dionysos Films from the start of 2024.
Finnish writer-director Selma Vilhunen and producer Venla Hellstedt, who were previously co-founders of Helsinki-based Tuffi Films, will join Dionysos Films from the start of 2024.
Tuffi has produced titles such as Stupid Young Heart (Berlinale Crystal Bear winner), Hobbyhorse Revolution and the 2014 Academy Award nominated short Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? – all directed by Vilhunen. In addition to Vilhunen’s works, Tuffi’s other credits include Jenni Toivoniemi’s Games People Play, the feminist omnibus Force of Habit and Marja Pyykkö’s youth film Sihja,...
Finnish writer-director Selma Vilhunen and producer Venla Hellstedt, who were previously co-founders of Helsinki-based Tuffi Films, will join Dionysos Films from the start of 2024.
Tuffi has produced titles such as Stupid Young Heart (Berlinale Crystal Bear winner), Hobbyhorse Revolution and the 2014 Academy Award nominated short Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? – all directed by Vilhunen. In addition to Vilhunen’s works, Tuffi’s other credits include Jenni Toivoniemi’s Games People Play, the feminist omnibus Force of Habit and Marja Pyykkö’s youth film Sihja,...
- 11/23/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
New projects from Jenni Toivoniemi, Jon Blåhed, Erol Mintaş and Ester Martin Bergsmark are among selection
The Finnish Film Affair (Ffa), Helsinki International Film Festival’s industry strand, has unveiled the line-up for its market showcase of Nordic films and Finnish series running September 20-22.
Among the 31 projects selected is Jenni Toivoniemi’s comedy Butterflies, the director’s second feature after Games People Play which was also presented at the Ffa.
Also being showcased is Jon Blåhed’s new feature Raptures; Erol Mintaş’ Earth Song; Ester Martin Bergsmark’s Land Of Ferns; and Marika Harjusaari’s The Mire from the producer of Hatching.
The Finnish Film Affair (Ffa), Helsinki International Film Festival’s industry strand, has unveiled the line-up for its market showcase of Nordic films and Finnish series running September 20-22.
Among the 31 projects selected is Jenni Toivoniemi’s comedy Butterflies, the director’s second feature after Games People Play which was also presented at the Ffa.
Also being showcased is Jon Blåhed’s new feature Raptures; Erol Mintaş’ Earth Song; Ester Martin Bergsmark’s Land Of Ferns; and Marika Harjusaari’s The Mire from the producer of Hatching.
- 8/30/2023
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
The film’s working title is ‘Fallen Leaves’.
Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki is planning to shoot his 20th feature film, Fallen Leaves (working title) starting in late August, in and around Helsinki.
The Match Factory will handle sales, continuing a long-time relationship with Kaurismaki most recently on 2017’s The Other Side of Hope. Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen will star.
The tragicomedy will be the fourth film continuing the themes of his working class trilogy also including Shadows in Paradise, Ariel and The Match Factory Girl.
The film follows a shop assistant (Pöysti) and a sandblaster (Vatanen). Kaurismäki’s long...
Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki is planning to shoot his 20th feature film, Fallen Leaves (working title) starting in late August, in and around Helsinki.
The Match Factory will handle sales, continuing a long-time relationship with Kaurismaki most recently on 2017’s The Other Side of Hope. Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen will star.
The tragicomedy will be the fourth film continuing the themes of his working class trilogy also including Shadows in Paradise, Ariel and The Match Factory Girl.
The film follows a shop assistant (Pöysti) and a sandblaster (Vatanen). Kaurismäki’s long...
- 6/22/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Marja Pyykkö’s fourth feature follows an unconventional fairy and an eccentric boy who overcome their own fears in order to save Mother Nature. Marja Pyykkö’s fourth feature, Sihja, the Rebel Fairy, is one of the titles taking part in this year’s edition of Buff in Malmö (21-27 March 2021), Sweden’s international film festival for children and youth. Before filming Sihja, the Rebel Fairy, Pyykkö worked on several television productions and helmed three features – namely, Run Sister Run! (2010), Village People (2013) and Man and a Baby (2017). The film will be awarded Buff’s Nordic Star and is one of the nominees for the European Children’s Film Association Award. The story of Sihja, the Rebel Fairy, penned by Kirsikka Saari and Jenni Toivoniemi, follows Sihja (Elina Patrakka), a young, charming and slightly outrageous fairy, who leaves her forest home. In the city, she meets a sensitive new 11-year-old friend,...
The gathering will kick off on 2 August with Babyteeth by Shannon Murphy and will close with Jenni Toivoniemi’s Games People Play. Espinho’s Fest - New Directors, New Films Festival has announced the line-up for its 2020 edition. This year, the festival – known for its strong industry programme – will mainly be focusing on its film programme, spread across three different cities, with an online edition of the Pitching Forum, the only industry activity that has not been postponed. In this year’s Pitching Forum, 28 projects will be competing in four different categories, vying for development and co-production awards. The festival will run from 2-9 August, boasting four main competitive sections,...
Ten films have been chosen, produced by 14 different European nations.
Neasa Hardiman’s sci-fi thriller Sea Fever is one of the 10 female-directed features chosen for Sydney Film Festival (Sff) and European Film Promotion (Efp)’s Europe! Voices of Women in Film initiative, which will run online from June 10-21.
Chosen by Sff director Nashen Moodley, the 10 films are produced by 14 European countries.
Hardiman’s film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival last September, and is an Ireland-Sweden-Belgium-uk co-production. It stars Connie Nielsen, Hermione Corfield and Dougray Scott in the story of a West of Ireland trawler crew who struggle for...
Neasa Hardiman’s sci-fi thriller Sea Fever is one of the 10 female-directed features chosen for Sydney Film Festival (Sff) and European Film Promotion (Efp)’s Europe! Voices of Women in Film initiative, which will run online from June 10-21.
Chosen by Sff director Nashen Moodley, the 10 films are produced by 14 European countries.
Hardiman’s film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival last September, and is an Ireland-Sweden-Belgium-uk co-production. It stars Connie Nielsen, Hermione Corfield and Dougray Scott in the story of a West of Ireland trawler crew who struggle for...
- 5/26/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
The film landscape in Scandinavia is far from homogenous. In Sweden, where no drastic coronavirus restrictions were enforced, shoots were not suspended so long as no more than 50 people were assembled, while elsewhere in the Nordics, a lockdown was imposed and film productions were stopped.
On April 14, film production resumed in Denmark — after a pause that lasted more than a month — under a new set of rules relating to the coronavirus crisis that also apply to Sweden, according to the Nordic Film Guide, which was put together by the Swedish banner Hobby Film and based on information released by government bodies. Besides leaner crew numbers, the guidelines also require at least 4 square-meters (43 square-feet) between each person on interior shoots and no buffets or coffee stations on set. Crowd scenes are out of the question right now. Shooting in public places in Sweden is permitted, while Denmark is allowing such lensing on a case-by-case basis.
On April 14, film production resumed in Denmark — after a pause that lasted more than a month — under a new set of rules relating to the coronavirus crisis that also apply to Sweden, according to the Nordic Film Guide, which was put together by the Swedish banner Hobby Film and based on information released by government bodies. Besides leaner crew numbers, the guidelines also require at least 4 square-meters (43 square-feet) between each person on interior shoots and no buffets or coffee stations on set. Crowd scenes are out of the question right now. Shooting in public places in Sweden is permitted, while Denmark is allowing such lensing on a case-by-case basis.
- 5/8/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
LevelK has sold the Swedish adventure-filled family film “Faunutland and the Lost Magic” to the U.S. and several territories across Europe.
Directed by Marcus Ovnell, “Faunutland and the Lost Magic” was acquired by Uncorked Entertainment for North American rights and Kinologistika for Russia/Cis. Other deals were closed for Germany and Luxembourg (Mfa) and Estonia (Estin Film). LevelK is negotiating sales in further territories.
The film tells the story of Emily, a little girl who sets off to find happiness for her sad mother and discover clues about the father she never knew. Through her quest, Emily finds a mysterious chest and is transported to a
magical world where she meets fantastic creatures. The movie stars Tipper Seifert-Cleveland (“Cruella”), Jenny Lampa (“The Bridge”) and Harriet Slater (“Pennyworth”).
“In the time of such uncertainty in the world, ‘Faunutland and the Lost Magic’ lends a hand in helping
families and children...
Directed by Marcus Ovnell, “Faunutland and the Lost Magic” was acquired by Uncorked Entertainment for North American rights and Kinologistika for Russia/Cis. Other deals were closed for Germany and Luxembourg (Mfa) and Estonia (Estin Film). LevelK is negotiating sales in further territories.
The film tells the story of Emily, a little girl who sets off to find happiness for her sad mother and discover clues about the father she never knew. Through her quest, Emily finds a mysterious chest and is transported to a
magical world where she meets fantastic creatures. The movie stars Tipper Seifert-Cleveland (“Cruella”), Jenny Lampa (“The Bridge”) and Harriet Slater (“Pennyworth”).
“In the time of such uncertainty in the world, ‘Faunutland and the Lost Magic’ lends a hand in helping
families and children...
- 4/30/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
New films by Thomas Vinterberg, Charlotte Blom and Jonas Poher Rasmussen will be presented at the Goteborg Film Festival’s Nordic Film Market. In total, 16 films in post-production will be presented to industry participants in at the Nordic Film Market as part of the Work-in-Progress section. Half of the lineup is made up of first features.
Cia Edström, the head of the Nordic Film Market, said the industry showcase is seeing a big increase in participation this year. As many as 381 attendees from 25 countries so far have signed up for the event, including 37 sales agents, 67 festival programmers and 47 buyers. Edström noted the breadth and diversity of films and projects in this year’s program.
Vinterberg’s next film, “Another Round” is a modern drama starring Mads Mikkelsen. Represented in international markets by TrustNordisk, the film follows a group of high school teachers who embark on an experiment to be intoxicated...
Cia Edström, the head of the Nordic Film Market, said the industry showcase is seeing a big increase in participation this year. As many as 381 attendees from 25 countries so far have signed up for the event, including 37 sales agents, 67 festival programmers and 47 buyers. Edström noted the breadth and diversity of films and projects in this year’s program.
Vinterberg’s next film, “Another Round” is a modern drama starring Mads Mikkelsen. Represented in international markets by TrustNordisk, the film follows a group of high school teachers who embark on an experiment to be intoxicated...
- 1/16/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
50% of its programme will be comprised of films directed by women.
The world premiere of Maria Bäck’s Swedish drama Psychosis in Stockholm wil open the Goteborg Film Festival on January 24 as part of the festival’s Nordic Competition. Goteborg has promised that 50% of its programme will be comprised of films directed by women.
The film is inspired by an experience writer-director Bäck had when she was 15 and her mother developed a psychosis while they were on a trip to Stockholm. The filmmaker describes the project as a “surreal fiction drama”; Garagefilm produces what is Bäck’s second feature following I Remember When I Die.
The world premiere of Maria Bäck’s Swedish drama Psychosis in Stockholm wil open the Goteborg Film Festival on January 24 as part of the festival’s Nordic Competition. Goteborg has promised that 50% of its programme will be comprised of films directed by women.
The film is inspired by an experience writer-director Bäck had when she was 15 and her mother developed a psychosis while they were on a trip to Stockholm. The filmmaker describes the project as a “surreal fiction drama”; Garagefilm produces what is Bäck’s second feature following I Remember When I Die.
- 1/7/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Goteborg Film Festival, the biggest showcase of local and international movies in the Nordics, will kick off its 43rd edition with Maria Bäck’s “”Psychosis,” and will close with actor-turned-director Mårten Klingberg’s “My Father Mary Anne.”
Both timely Swedish dramas dealing with trauma post-sexual abuse, and the experience of a transgender priest, respectively, “Psychosis” and “My Father Mary Anne” will have their world premiere at Goteborg.
Stellan Skarsgård, who just won a Golden Globe for his performance in the hit HBO series “Tchernobyl,” will receive the prestigious Nordic Honorary Dragon Award and will be honored with a retrospective of some of the greatest films of his career. As part of the tribute, the estival will also host the Nordic premiere of “The Painted Bird” which was recently shortlisted for the international feature film category at the Oscars. During the festival, Skarsgård will also having a masterclass.
In addition to opening the festival,...
Both timely Swedish dramas dealing with trauma post-sexual abuse, and the experience of a transgender priest, respectively, “Psychosis” and “My Father Mary Anne” will have their world premiere at Goteborg.
Stellan Skarsgård, who just won a Golden Globe for his performance in the hit HBO series “Tchernobyl,” will receive the prestigious Nordic Honorary Dragon Award and will be honored with a retrospective of some of the greatest films of his career. As part of the tribute, the estival will also host the Nordic premiere of “The Painted Bird” which was recently shortlisted for the international feature film category at the Oscars. During the festival, Skarsgård will also having a masterclass.
In addition to opening the festival,...
- 1/7/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Industry professionals get first look at new work.
Works in progress from Brazil, Poland, Mexico, Greece and Russia have won awards for the best pitches at the second edition of European Work in Progress during Film Festival Cologne.
The five winners were chosen on Tuesday (15) by an international jury consisting of Locarno Film Festival’s new artistic director Lili Hinstin, Zdf Enterprises’ director of acquisitions for feature films Margrit Stärk, Albanian producer Sabina Kodra, whose Erafilm was behind Robert Budina’s A Shelter Among The Clouds), and Yohann Comte, co-founder of French sales company Charades.
The awards were presented at...
Works in progress from Brazil, Poland, Mexico, Greece and Russia have won awards for the best pitches at the second edition of European Work in Progress during Film Festival Cologne.
The five winners were chosen on Tuesday (15) by an international jury consisting of Locarno Film Festival’s new artistic director Lili Hinstin, Zdf Enterprises’ director of acquisitions for feature films Margrit Stärk, Albanian producer Sabina Kodra, whose Erafilm was behind Robert Budina’s A Shelter Among The Clouds), and Yohann Comte, co-founder of French sales company Charades.
The awards were presented at...
- 10/16/2019
- by 158¦Martin Blaney¦40¦
- ScreenDaily
Maria Pirkkalainen now heads the Helsinki event, which attracted 400 industry attendees.
The Finnish Film Affair wraps today with its best project award going to Oasis Of Now, the debut feature of Finnish-Iranian director and screenwriter Hamy Ramezan. The story follows a family seeking asylum in Finland, and Shahab Hosseini will lead the cast.
Jussi Rantamäki and Emilia Haukka of Aamu Film Company will produce; the company’s credits include Cannes award-winner The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki. The best project prize comes with a cash award of €3000 ($3320) to support the film’s international marketing.
“The film has...
The Finnish Film Affair wraps today with its best project award going to Oasis Of Now, the debut feature of Finnish-Iranian director and screenwriter Hamy Ramezan. The story follows a family seeking asylum in Finland, and Shahab Hosseini will lead the cast.
Jussi Rantamäki and Emilia Haukka of Aamu Film Company will produce; the company’s credits include Cannes award-winner The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki. The best project prize comes with a cash award of €3000 ($3320) to support the film’s international marketing.
“The film has...
- 9/19/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Cast includes The Innocents’ Laura Birn; project presented at Finnish Film Affair’s works in progress this week.
LevelK has acquired world sales rights for Jenni Toivoniemi’s Finnish comedy Games People Play.
Venla Hellstedt and Elli Toivoniemi produce for Finland’s award-winning female-focused production company Tuffi Films, whose credits include 2019 Berlinale Crystal Bear winenr Stupid Young Heart. The deal marks the first collaboration between LevelK and Tuffi.
Jenni Toivoniemi makes her feature film debut following award-winning shorts such as The Date and The Committee.
Games People Play is a bittersweet comedy about a group of thirtysomething friends regressing to...
LevelK has acquired world sales rights for Jenni Toivoniemi’s Finnish comedy Games People Play.
Venla Hellstedt and Elli Toivoniemi produce for Finland’s award-winning female-focused production company Tuffi Films, whose credits include 2019 Berlinale Crystal Bear winenr Stupid Young Heart. The deal marks the first collaboration between LevelK and Tuffi.
Jenni Toivoniemi makes her feature film debut following award-winning shorts such as The Date and The Committee.
Games People Play is a bittersweet comedy about a group of thirtysomething friends regressing to...
- 9/18/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The project is directed by 15 female writers and directors.
Tuffi Films short film anthology One-Off Incident won the Finnish Film Affair’s work in progress award, which goes to the project presented that is most likely to attract international attention.
One-Off Incident is an anthology of short films about how power is used against women in their private lives as well as in society. The project will also include an awareness campaign.
The project is directed by 15 female writers and directors and curated by Tuffi Films’ group of female producers; it was pitched by director Alli Haapasalo and Tuffi producer Elli Toivoniemi.
Tuffi Films short film anthology One-Off Incident won the Finnish Film Affair’s work in progress award, which goes to the project presented that is most likely to attract international attention.
One-Off Incident is an anthology of short films about how power is used against women in their private lives as well as in society. The project will also include an awareness campaign.
The project is directed by 15 female writers and directors and curated by Tuffi Films’ group of female producers; it was pitched by director Alli Haapasalo and Tuffi producer Elli Toivoniemi.
- 10/1/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Nordisk Panorama takes place on Sept 20-25 in Malmo, Sweden.
Nordisk Panorama has confirmed the films in its two juried competitions, for Best Nordic Documentary and Best Nordic Short Film, for its Sept 20-25 festival in Malmo, Sweden.
The Best Nordic Documentary prize comes with $12,900 sponsored by the Nordic public broadcasters Dr, Yle, Ruv, Nrk and Svt.
Those 15 films include The Raft, which already won the top prize at Cph:Dox; and The Distant Barking of Dogs, which has won a slew of awards at festivals including San Fransicso, Thessaloniki, Goteborg, Idfa, Dokfest Munich and Oslo.
The Best Nordic Short...
Nordisk Panorama has confirmed the films in its two juried competitions, for Best Nordic Documentary and Best Nordic Short Film, for its Sept 20-25 festival in Malmo, Sweden.
The Best Nordic Documentary prize comes with $12,900 sponsored by the Nordic public broadcasters Dr, Yle, Ruv, Nrk and Svt.
Those 15 films include The Raft, which already won the top prize at Cph:Dox; and The Distant Barking of Dogs, which has won a slew of awards at festivals including San Fransicso, Thessaloniki, Goteborg, Idfa, Dokfest Munich and Oslo.
The Best Nordic Short...
- 7/10/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Drama, set to shoot in East Helsinki, will touch on teenage pregnancy and extreme right
Finnish director Selma Vilhunen, whose debut feature Little Wing premiered at Toronto 2016, will shoot her second fiction feature Stupid Young Heart in autumn 2017.
Tuffi Films will shoot in East Helsinki and plan to premiere the drama in Finnish cinemas by late 2018.
Tuffi’s Elli Toivoniemi and Venla Hellstedt produce the film, described as an “edgy and warm drama” about suburban teenagers dealing with an unexpected pregnancy as well as extreme right ideas entering their multicultural neighbourhood.
Kirsikka Saari wrote the script; she and Vilhunen previously collaborated on the Oscar-nominated short Do I Have To Take Care of Everything?
Backers are the Finnish Film Foundation, Yle, Nordisk Film, The Church Media Foundation and Creative Europe. Co-producers are Hob Ab from Sweden and Windmill Film from The Netherlands.
Vilhunen said: ”Kirsikka Saari has written a script where the pulsating, wild and delicate...
Finnish director Selma Vilhunen, whose debut feature Little Wing premiered at Toronto 2016, will shoot her second fiction feature Stupid Young Heart in autumn 2017.
Tuffi Films will shoot in East Helsinki and plan to premiere the drama in Finnish cinemas by late 2018.
Tuffi’s Elli Toivoniemi and Venla Hellstedt produce the film, described as an “edgy and warm drama” about suburban teenagers dealing with an unexpected pregnancy as well as extreme right ideas entering their multicultural neighbourhood.
Kirsikka Saari wrote the script; she and Vilhunen previously collaborated on the Oscar-nominated short Do I Have To Take Care of Everything?
Backers are the Finnish Film Foundation, Yle, Nordisk Film, The Church Media Foundation and Creative Europe. Co-producers are Hob Ab from Sweden and Windmill Film from The Netherlands.
Vilhunen said: ”Kirsikka Saari has written a script where the pulsating, wild and delicate...
- 3/2/2017
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Fares Fares thriller The Nile Hilton Incident gets top grant of $1.3m while Ben Kingsley and Theo James thriller also among those backed.
The Swedish Film Institute has revealed the 29 projects to receive support in its latest round of funding.
The projects include Per Fly’s (Manslaughter) new political thriller, a transgender drama, a documentary about a female boxer and a murder thriller starring Fares Fares.
The projects backed by the Swedish Film Institute in the past three months are listed below, in descending order of amount granted:
Full list of backed projects:
The Nile Hilton Incident, wr/dir Tarik Saleh, prod Kristina Aberg. Thriller inspired by the true story of a Lebanese reality TV show winner who is murdered at a hotel in Dubai. Fares Fares stars. Sfi funding granted $1.3m (11m Sek)
Becker, wr/dir Martin Larsson, prod Erik Magnusson. Drama about a man’s quest for money and power in the southern Swedish village...
The Swedish Film Institute has revealed the 29 projects to receive support in its latest round of funding.
The projects include Per Fly’s (Manslaughter) new political thriller, a transgender drama, a documentary about a female boxer and a murder thriller starring Fares Fares.
The projects backed by the Swedish Film Institute in the past three months are listed below, in descending order of amount granted:
Full list of backed projects:
The Nile Hilton Incident, wr/dir Tarik Saleh, prod Kristina Aberg. Thriller inspired by the true story of a Lebanese reality TV show winner who is murdered at a hotel in Dubai. Fares Fares stars. Sfi funding granted $1.3m (11m Sek)
Becker, wr/dir Martin Larsson, prod Erik Magnusson. Drama about a man’s quest for money and power in the southern Swedish village...
- 3/9/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
The insanity of daily modern life is presented with an exponentially comedic tone in the Finnish Academy Award-nominated Live Action Short Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? A mother wakes up in a panic certain that she and her family are late for a wedding ceremony. What ensues is a series of hilarious, but progressively terrible events that force her to try and solve all of them in the best way possible given such constrains. Director Selma Vilhunen talked to us about the real life inspiration for the short, her countrymen incredible support, and the unbelievable experience of being nominated for an Oscar.
Aguilar: How did the idea for the short come about?
Selma Vilhunen: The screenwriter, Kirsikka Saari, she had this idea or the theme in her mind for quite sometime, about people in a hurry, an a person having to do a lot of things in work and in family. But for sometime she didn’t know what the exact approach would be. She had this theme in her head and then one day she had a fight with her husband about house chores and whatnot, and she was kind of doing the same thing as the protagonist in the film. She was jumping around the house, and trying to do all kinds of things but not really being successful at any of them. Then she left the house, banged the door and went for a walk to cool her angry head. She sat down on a bench and then she started to laugh at herself. She saw herself from another person’s point of view, that’s when she knew what the approach for this theme would be. She realized that it is a comedy, and that she should laugh at this person.
Aguilar: Previously you have worked on various documentary shorts, which usually tend to be of a more serious nature, what attracted you to this short narrative comedy?
Selma Vilhunen: I could also relate to it [Laughs] I also have personal experience on this kind of situation in life. Kirsikka and I are co-owners of the same production company and we both have kids, so the question “Do I have to take care of everything?” is something I can really relate to. I also just really like the rhythm that is written in the story as well as the words, it was basically a funny story already on paper.
Aguilar: What do you think is the driving force or the reasoning behind mothers wanting to take care of everything, and do it right?
Selma Vilhunen: That’s a good question. It seems like often women are expected to be the ones who are responsible for the world going around, but on the other hand they kind of just take that role and don’t give any responsibility to the people around them. We wanted to take a small look at that, and maybe raise the question whether it is wise to try to take care of everything.
Aguilar: After the funeral sequence something chances in the family, do you think this has to do with the fact that in today’s world we tend to live so fast and we forget about the small things?
Selma Vilhunen: Maybe it is like that. Maybe the viewers can make the final interpretations themselves. Perhaps other people have different interpretations of what’s behind it all. But definitely I like the fact that is a funeral that makes them finally calm down and take a pause, but also of course, in the plot, after that they really don’t have anything to go to [Laughs] They tried their best and now there’s no where to go to. Maybe it is also the fact that life is short and you should seize the moment, the funeral kind of reminds them of that.
Aguilar: This film is only the second film ever from Finland to be nominated for an Academy Award, and the first short film. Is there any pressure on you from your compatriots?
Selma Vilhunen: I wouldn’t say that there is pressure to win the Oscar. We, and I would say also Finnish people, are very happy about this. This is a really wonderful opportunity, to be nominated, so we are enjoying this nomination already. Winning the Oscar would only be like a bonus on top of something that is already really wonderful. We have really felt the excitement of all Finnish people. It is really nice but it also a little bit surprising how much the entire nation is living this experience with us. Sometimes it can feel like this is a pressure, but we don’t want to think of it that way, we just want to enjoy it.
Aguilar: What are your future plans?Any projects in development?
Selma Vilhunen: In Tuffi Films, which is our production company, we have several projects going on at the same time. Kirsikka and I are working on a feature film, she is writing it and I’m going to direct it. We hope to have it in production next year. We also have a very busy spring. On February 28 th we have the premier of a film called Korso, which was written by Kirsikka and another writer Jenni Toivoniemi, and it is produced by Tuffi films and another production company. Then I will have my feature documentary, Laulu, in theaters in April, so it is a busy Spring.
Aguilar: How did the idea for the short come about?
Selma Vilhunen: The screenwriter, Kirsikka Saari, she had this idea or the theme in her mind for quite sometime, about people in a hurry, an a person having to do a lot of things in work and in family. But for sometime she didn’t know what the exact approach would be. She had this theme in her head and then one day she had a fight with her husband about house chores and whatnot, and she was kind of doing the same thing as the protagonist in the film. She was jumping around the house, and trying to do all kinds of things but not really being successful at any of them. Then she left the house, banged the door and went for a walk to cool her angry head. She sat down on a bench and then she started to laugh at herself. She saw herself from another person’s point of view, that’s when she knew what the approach for this theme would be. She realized that it is a comedy, and that she should laugh at this person.
Aguilar: Previously you have worked on various documentary shorts, which usually tend to be of a more serious nature, what attracted you to this short narrative comedy?
Selma Vilhunen: I could also relate to it [Laughs] I also have personal experience on this kind of situation in life. Kirsikka and I are co-owners of the same production company and we both have kids, so the question “Do I have to take care of everything?” is something I can really relate to. I also just really like the rhythm that is written in the story as well as the words, it was basically a funny story already on paper.
Aguilar: What do you think is the driving force or the reasoning behind mothers wanting to take care of everything, and do it right?
Selma Vilhunen: That’s a good question. It seems like often women are expected to be the ones who are responsible for the world going around, but on the other hand they kind of just take that role and don’t give any responsibility to the people around them. We wanted to take a small look at that, and maybe raise the question whether it is wise to try to take care of everything.
Aguilar: After the funeral sequence something chances in the family, do you think this has to do with the fact that in today’s world we tend to live so fast and we forget about the small things?
Selma Vilhunen: Maybe it is like that. Maybe the viewers can make the final interpretations themselves. Perhaps other people have different interpretations of what’s behind it all. But definitely I like the fact that is a funeral that makes them finally calm down and take a pause, but also of course, in the plot, after that they really don’t have anything to go to [Laughs] They tried their best and now there’s no where to go to. Maybe it is also the fact that life is short and you should seize the moment, the funeral kind of reminds them of that.
Aguilar: This film is only the second film ever from Finland to be nominated for an Academy Award, and the first short film. Is there any pressure on you from your compatriots?
Selma Vilhunen: I wouldn’t say that there is pressure to win the Oscar. We, and I would say also Finnish people, are very happy about this. This is a really wonderful opportunity, to be nominated, so we are enjoying this nomination already. Winning the Oscar would only be like a bonus on top of something that is already really wonderful. We have really felt the excitement of all Finnish people. It is really nice but it also a little bit surprising how much the entire nation is living this experience with us. Sometimes it can feel like this is a pressure, but we don’t want to think of it that way, we just want to enjoy it.
Aguilar: What are your future plans?Any projects in development?
Selma Vilhunen: In Tuffi Films, which is our production company, we have several projects going on at the same time. Kirsikka and I are working on a feature film, she is writing it and I’m going to direct it. We hope to have it in production next year. We also have a very busy spring. On February 28 th we have the premier of a film called Korso, which was written by Kirsikka and another writer Jenni Toivoniemi, and it is produced by Tuffi films and another production company. Then I will have my feature documentary, Laulu, in theaters in April, so it is a busy Spring.
- 2/19/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
A 93-minute collection of eight short films from the 2013 edition of the festival, the Sundance Film Festival Short Films program showcases a variety of both young and established filmmakers. Already playing now at the IFC Center in New York until January 2, the series is coming to a city near you. Log lines below, and program dates after the jump. Check out Sundance's 2014 shorts lineup here.The Date Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction Tino’s manhood is put to the test in front of two women when he has to host a date for Diablo, the family’s stud cat. (Jenni Toivoniemi, Finland, 8 min) Whiplash Short Film Jury Award: Us Fiction An aspiring drummer enters an elite conservatory's top jazz orchestra. (Damien Chazelle, USA, 17 min) Skinningrove Short Film Jury Award: Non-Fiction Photographer Chris Killip shares unpublished images chronicling time spent among the fiercely independent residents of a remote English fishing village.
- 12/31/2013
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Producer Riina Hyytiä named producer of the year at Finnish Film Week.
At the closing gala of the Finnish Film Week (Sept 20-26), producer Riina Hyytiä was named Producer of the Year for Johanna Vuoksenmaa’s divorce comedy 21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage (21 tapaa pilata avioliitto).
The comedy is the first Finnish feature by a female director to exceed 400,000 admissions, which only four films have achieved in the last 25 years.
Organised for the fourth time as part of the Helsinki International Film Festival-Love & Anarchy included 24 domestic productions introduced by the filmmakers.
It included previews of Ulrika Bengts’ Lärjungen (The Disciple - Finland’s submission for the Oscars), Rax Rinnekangas’ Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Last Life of Lucifer), Pekka Lehto’s Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Surrealist and His Naughty Hand), Dome Karukoski’s Leijonasydän (Heart of a Lion) and Pirjo Honkasalo’s Betoniyö (Concrete Night).
More awards for industry professionals went to:
Director of the Year Simo Halinen for Kerron...
At the closing gala of the Finnish Film Week (Sept 20-26), producer Riina Hyytiä was named Producer of the Year for Johanna Vuoksenmaa’s divorce comedy 21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage (21 tapaa pilata avioliitto).
The comedy is the first Finnish feature by a female director to exceed 400,000 admissions, which only four films have achieved in the last 25 years.
Organised for the fourth time as part of the Helsinki International Film Festival-Love & Anarchy included 24 domestic productions introduced by the filmmakers.
It included previews of Ulrika Bengts’ Lärjungen (The Disciple - Finland’s submission for the Oscars), Rax Rinnekangas’ Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Last Life of Lucifer), Pekka Lehto’s Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Surrealist and His Naughty Hand), Dome Karukoski’s Leijonasydän (Heart of a Lion) and Pirjo Honkasalo’s Betoniyö (Concrete Night).
More awards for industry professionals went to:
Director of the Year Simo Halinen for Kerron...
- 9/27/2013
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Vol. I Issue 7
Sundance programmed 65 short films selected from 8,102 submissions. The Academy only goes through about 160 films to arrive at the 10 nominations; one might say winning at Sundance is harder than winning an Oscar. Every year when I watch the Sundance shorts I wonder if they just run out of energy when they get to the end. With over 100 films to choose from for every one of the slots, I am always amazed by the choices. (I also feel that way about the documentary films selected.)
If you submitted one of the 8,102 films you might feel you were robbed or, if you’re honest and critical, you might feel that at least the winners should have been programmed. You can always make another short and try next year or submit your short to one of the over 200 festivals in the world that run short films. Many of the winners are on the Web so take a look at them and see what you think.
I feel this year’s Sundance 2013 Short Film Award winners are a mixed bag if one is looking for works that will launch careers, entertain and have artistic merit, which I always insist on when I am teaching. This group of films, except in one case, gets two of the three: two are wonderful career launching works, five are very entertaining and three have artistic merit. Its great to be “art” but I think it is better to be entertaining “art.” I have written about all of the films which I had the good fortune of seeing on the web-in all but one case.
Oddly, getting one of the films proved really challenging. The filmmakers decided not to post to protect it from Academy rules (The Academy requires a film first qualify before being shown.) on the web. Or to even post it with a password which the Academy permits prior to the film qualifying for award consideration. Sundance did not even have a web version of this work. So they sent a copy over via messenger which I appreciated. I think if a work is out, it makes a lot of sense to have it on the web (with a password) so that critics and festival programmers, etc. can see it.
I am glad I did get to see it.
Short Film Grand Jury Prize – The Whistle
The Whistle is a special work. It has a large cast, lots of locations and is a successful bigger short film. Telling the story of Marcin, it is both entertaining and moving. Marcin is a lowest-leagues football (soccer) referee who lives in a small town near Krakow, Poland, and who dreams of better times. At his mother’s urging, he decides to change his life and find himself a girlfriend and a better job. He succeeds. The film is unique among this selection of award winners because it does not depend on any gimmicks, plot twists or narrative surprises. The film is well directed, shot and edited. The filmmaker handles the soccer matches and action sequences well. Marcin is able to handle the soccer players’ aggression and, to my delight, the filmmaker holds the action at a realistic level.
While this film is not the audience winner as are some of the other films, it is very deserving of the grand prize.
Director: Grzegorz Zariczny 16 minutes
Production Company Link: http://polishshorts.pl/en/film_catalogue/documentary/1090/
Short Film Jury Award, Us Fiction – Whiplash
Whiplash is the story of a jazz percussionist in a high school setting with a faculty member who, while musically talented, should have opted for a career in Marine training (as one can imagine it from movies) instead of being a teacher. This conductor from hell is abusive, a liar and unusually cruel to his students. Whiplash is the name of the jazz composition the band is playing. This short was written as a “calling card” aimed at attracting backing for a feature-length version of the story. Jason Reitman is an executive producer of this short.
Without revealing more about the narrative, this is an exceptionally realized work. Perfect in every regard except its humanity. The directing and pacing is spot on. Camera and the tech credits first rate, professional. The performance by J.K. Simmons (“Up in the Air”) is first rate. As the parent of a jazz playing high school trumpet player, I must confess that if this character was my son’s teacher I would have him arrested for child abuse. Of course, this is only a movie. The filmmakers got me. Well done. Let’s hope they have the sense to not turn it into a feature or a television series if the longer work follows this concept.
This film is not available on the web.
Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle
The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction – The Date
In this student film from Finland, Tino’s manhood is put to the test in front of two women when he has to host a date for Diablo, the family’s stud cat.
The Date, a wonderfully realized short fiction film from the Elo Film School Helsinki, is a stand out. This four actor, two cat, one location work (an apartment) deals with a mother (Mirka) and her daughter (Päibvi) bringing in their female cat to mate for the first time with the young man’s (Tino) cat. This is a process Tino has been through before. As they drink tea and eat cookies the cats are having a great time, very loudly in the back ground. The mother talks about the cats having sex in somewhat graphic terms. The teens try not to react. Afterwards the two young people go out on the balcony and she talks about her concern for her cat and the cat’s sexual experience for this first mating. Tino, the young man, is a perfect foil. Despite his youth he handles this in a very mature fashion. This film is deserving of its prize.
It’s great to see a student film where the focus is on execution of a clever and simple idea. A cat date. This is also perfect. While one might quibble about some small things, the filmmaker shows control, excellent coverage of scenes, executing humor, making a film that has characters that seem real and no violence. I think the director should have not had his characters smoke and perhaps use the “F” word for the sake of getting a young audience, rather than an older teen audience. It would be nice for middle-schoolers to see this work and to see it on television/cable. Jenni Toivonlemi has made a work that is truly international and a great portfolio film.
Directed and written by: Jenni Toivoniemi 7 minutes
This work is not available (at press time) on the Web.
Company Link: http://www.tuffifilms.com/productions
The Short Film Jury Award Documentary – Skinningrove
This short documentary narrated by British photographer Chris Killip shows his unpublished images that chronicle the time he spent among the residents of a remote English fishing village, Skinningrove. It feels like a home movie or very minimal despite the distinguished reputation of filmmaker Mr. Almereyda or the subject. Because of the slow pacing it is doubtful it will get much broadcast or cable exposure. The work is all shot in one location, Mr. Killip is speaking but we never hear the filmmaker nor is there any interaction between them. While the photographs are striking, they are shown without a critical context and no information is provided by the filmmaker about Mr. Killip so we must evaluate the images as shown without a critical context. This makes the work very challenging. It is a shame the filmmaker does not share Mr. Killip’s biographical information or his critical reputation. (He is a tenured professor at Harvard.)
Director: Michael Almereyda 15 minutes
Link to Mr. Killip’s web site: http://chriskillip.com/index.html
Short Film Audience Award – Catnip: Egress to Oblivion
This mocumentry while sure to be a crowd pleaser is a one note film. It’s a shame. Had the filmmaker seen one film by Marc Lewis (Cane Toads: An UnnaturalHistory) for example, the film could have been great. Less is more.
Directed by Jason Willis 7 minutes
Short Film Special Jury Award – Until the Quiet Comes
Directed by: Kahlil Joseph about 4 minutes
This music video by Kahlil Joseph is beautifully shot, performed, choreographed, cast. It was shot in the Nickerson Gardens housing projects in Watts, Los Angeles. The narrative comes from the music. The film is silent and reactive to the music. It’s eye candy with a serious subject.
Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLHH6N2tkFc&playnext=1&list=PLauTLaPMBllP9NLi-lJixdyJZi2_aSzM3&feature=results_video
Short Film Special Jury Award, Acting – Joel Nagle, Palimpsest
Kathleen Wise and Joel Nagle in Palimpsest
A successful house tuner provides clients with a unique form of therapy that examines subtle details in their living spaces. This is a perfect short film. A very simple idea done with skillful filmmaking, a wonderful cast and nuanced directing it is magical and full of surprises. Let’s hope it is put in for Academy consideration. Tyburski was robbed.
Palimpsest stands out as one of the Sundance star films it is beautifully directed and acted and succeeds doing all of the things a short film should accomplish. The film’s male lead Joel Nagle won a jury award for his amazingly nuanced performance of a home audio tuner. This work resonates both as a work of art and an audience pleaser. The other lead actor in the film Kathleen Wise also should have taken an award. She is unknowingly being upset by the sounds her home makes. What a delightful and original concept for a short film. Let’s hope it launches a theatrical career for its director, Michael Tyburski and its two stars.
Director: Michael Tyburski 17 minutes
Link: Not available.
Website for film/filmmaker: www.palimpsestfilm.com
Short Film Jury Award, Animation – Irish Folk Furniture
This stop action animation short is a straight narrative documentary about some dressers.
Perhaps more than we’ll ever want to know about Irish traditional dressers. It’s an interesting choice since it is not drawn or computer generated. Not very “flash” but, with the use of the voice over interviews by, I assume, the filmmaker, the work is sensitive and deceptively simple in its approach. It is an excellent work that some audiences will find challenging.
Animation and Camera: Tony W. Donoghue 8 minutes
________________________________________________________________________
Credits: Editing by Jessica Just for SydneysBuzz
________________________________________________________________________
Block Doc Workshops in Los Angeles February 2013 Ida Doc U
The International Documentary Association will be hosting Documentary Funding and Documentary Tune-Up Workshops with Block on February 9/10. http://www.documentary.org/news/february-documentary-producing-workshops-mitchell-block
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
©2013Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
Sundance programmed 65 short films selected from 8,102 submissions. The Academy only goes through about 160 films to arrive at the 10 nominations; one might say winning at Sundance is harder than winning an Oscar. Every year when I watch the Sundance shorts I wonder if they just run out of energy when they get to the end. With over 100 films to choose from for every one of the slots, I am always amazed by the choices. (I also feel that way about the documentary films selected.)
If you submitted one of the 8,102 films you might feel you were robbed or, if you’re honest and critical, you might feel that at least the winners should have been programmed. You can always make another short and try next year or submit your short to one of the over 200 festivals in the world that run short films. Many of the winners are on the Web so take a look at them and see what you think.
I feel this year’s Sundance 2013 Short Film Award winners are a mixed bag if one is looking for works that will launch careers, entertain and have artistic merit, which I always insist on when I am teaching. This group of films, except in one case, gets two of the three: two are wonderful career launching works, five are very entertaining and three have artistic merit. Its great to be “art” but I think it is better to be entertaining “art.” I have written about all of the films which I had the good fortune of seeing on the web-in all but one case.
Oddly, getting one of the films proved really challenging. The filmmakers decided not to post to protect it from Academy rules (The Academy requires a film first qualify before being shown.) on the web. Or to even post it with a password which the Academy permits prior to the film qualifying for award consideration. Sundance did not even have a web version of this work. So they sent a copy over via messenger which I appreciated. I think if a work is out, it makes a lot of sense to have it on the web (with a password) so that critics and festival programmers, etc. can see it.
I am glad I did get to see it.
Short Film Grand Jury Prize – The Whistle
The Whistle is a special work. It has a large cast, lots of locations and is a successful bigger short film. Telling the story of Marcin, it is both entertaining and moving. Marcin is a lowest-leagues football (soccer) referee who lives in a small town near Krakow, Poland, and who dreams of better times. At his mother’s urging, he decides to change his life and find himself a girlfriend and a better job. He succeeds. The film is unique among this selection of award winners because it does not depend on any gimmicks, plot twists or narrative surprises. The film is well directed, shot and edited. The filmmaker handles the soccer matches and action sequences well. Marcin is able to handle the soccer players’ aggression and, to my delight, the filmmaker holds the action at a realistic level.
While this film is not the audience winner as are some of the other films, it is very deserving of the grand prize.
Director: Grzegorz Zariczny 16 minutes
Production Company Link: http://polishshorts.pl/en/film_catalogue/documentary/1090/
Short Film Jury Award, Us Fiction – Whiplash
Whiplash is the story of a jazz percussionist in a high school setting with a faculty member who, while musically talented, should have opted for a career in Marine training (as one can imagine it from movies) instead of being a teacher. This conductor from hell is abusive, a liar and unusually cruel to his students. Whiplash is the name of the jazz composition the band is playing. This short was written as a “calling card” aimed at attracting backing for a feature-length version of the story. Jason Reitman is an executive producer of this short.
Without revealing more about the narrative, this is an exceptionally realized work. Perfect in every regard except its humanity. The directing and pacing is spot on. Camera and the tech credits first rate, professional. The performance by J.K. Simmons (“Up in the Air”) is first rate. As the parent of a jazz playing high school trumpet player, I must confess that if this character was my son’s teacher I would have him arrested for child abuse. Of course, this is only a movie. The filmmakers got me. Well done. Let’s hope they have the sense to not turn it into a feature or a television series if the longer work follows this concept.
This film is not available on the web.
Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle
The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction – The Date
In this student film from Finland, Tino’s manhood is put to the test in front of two women when he has to host a date for Diablo, the family’s stud cat.
The Date, a wonderfully realized short fiction film from the Elo Film School Helsinki, is a stand out. This four actor, two cat, one location work (an apartment) deals with a mother (Mirka) and her daughter (Päibvi) bringing in their female cat to mate for the first time with the young man’s (Tino) cat. This is a process Tino has been through before. As they drink tea and eat cookies the cats are having a great time, very loudly in the back ground. The mother talks about the cats having sex in somewhat graphic terms. The teens try not to react. Afterwards the two young people go out on the balcony and she talks about her concern for her cat and the cat’s sexual experience for this first mating. Tino, the young man, is a perfect foil. Despite his youth he handles this in a very mature fashion. This film is deserving of its prize.
It’s great to see a student film where the focus is on execution of a clever and simple idea. A cat date. This is also perfect. While one might quibble about some small things, the filmmaker shows control, excellent coverage of scenes, executing humor, making a film that has characters that seem real and no violence. I think the director should have not had his characters smoke and perhaps use the “F” word for the sake of getting a young audience, rather than an older teen audience. It would be nice for middle-schoolers to see this work and to see it on television/cable. Jenni Toivonlemi has made a work that is truly international and a great portfolio film.
Directed and written by: Jenni Toivoniemi 7 minutes
This work is not available (at press time) on the Web.
Company Link: http://www.tuffifilms.com/productions
The Short Film Jury Award Documentary – Skinningrove
This short documentary narrated by British photographer Chris Killip shows his unpublished images that chronicle the time he spent among the residents of a remote English fishing village, Skinningrove. It feels like a home movie or very minimal despite the distinguished reputation of filmmaker Mr. Almereyda or the subject. Because of the slow pacing it is doubtful it will get much broadcast or cable exposure. The work is all shot in one location, Mr. Killip is speaking but we never hear the filmmaker nor is there any interaction between them. While the photographs are striking, they are shown without a critical context and no information is provided by the filmmaker about Mr. Killip so we must evaluate the images as shown without a critical context. This makes the work very challenging. It is a shame the filmmaker does not share Mr. Killip’s biographical information or his critical reputation. (He is a tenured professor at Harvard.)
Director: Michael Almereyda 15 minutes
Link to Mr. Killip’s web site: http://chriskillip.com/index.html
Short Film Audience Award – Catnip: Egress to Oblivion
This mocumentry while sure to be a crowd pleaser is a one note film. It’s a shame. Had the filmmaker seen one film by Marc Lewis (Cane Toads: An UnnaturalHistory) for example, the film could have been great. Less is more.
Directed by Jason Willis 7 minutes
Short Film Special Jury Award – Until the Quiet Comes
Directed by: Kahlil Joseph about 4 minutes
This music video by Kahlil Joseph is beautifully shot, performed, choreographed, cast. It was shot in the Nickerson Gardens housing projects in Watts, Los Angeles. The narrative comes from the music. The film is silent and reactive to the music. It’s eye candy with a serious subject.
Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLHH6N2tkFc&playnext=1&list=PLauTLaPMBllP9NLi-lJixdyJZi2_aSzM3&feature=results_video
Short Film Special Jury Award, Acting – Joel Nagle, Palimpsest
Kathleen Wise and Joel Nagle in Palimpsest
A successful house tuner provides clients with a unique form of therapy that examines subtle details in their living spaces. This is a perfect short film. A very simple idea done with skillful filmmaking, a wonderful cast and nuanced directing it is magical and full of surprises. Let’s hope it is put in for Academy consideration. Tyburski was robbed.
Palimpsest stands out as one of the Sundance star films it is beautifully directed and acted and succeeds doing all of the things a short film should accomplish. The film’s male lead Joel Nagle won a jury award for his amazingly nuanced performance of a home audio tuner. This work resonates both as a work of art and an audience pleaser. The other lead actor in the film Kathleen Wise also should have taken an award. She is unknowingly being upset by the sounds her home makes. What a delightful and original concept for a short film. Let’s hope it launches a theatrical career for its director, Michael Tyburski and its two stars.
Director: Michael Tyburski 17 minutes
Link: Not available.
Website for film/filmmaker: www.palimpsestfilm.com
Short Film Jury Award, Animation – Irish Folk Furniture
This stop action animation short is a straight narrative documentary about some dressers.
Perhaps more than we’ll ever want to know about Irish traditional dressers. It’s an interesting choice since it is not drawn or computer generated. Not very “flash” but, with the use of the voice over interviews by, I assume, the filmmaker, the work is sensitive and deceptively simple in its approach. It is an excellent work that some audiences will find challenging.
Animation and Camera: Tony W. Donoghue 8 minutes
________________________________________________________________________
Credits: Editing by Jessica Just for SydneysBuzz
________________________________________________________________________
Block Doc Workshops in Los Angeles February 2013 Ida Doc U
The International Documentary Association will be hosting Documentary Funding and Documentary Tune-Up Workshops with Block on February 9/10. http://www.documentary.org/news/february-documentary-producing-workshops-mitchell-block
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
©2013Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
- 2/12/2013
- by Mitchell Block
- Sydney's Buzz
Here is a complete listing of the films that were shown/covered by the Ioncinema.com team comprised of Nicholas Bell (Nb), Jordan M. Smith (Js) and Eric Lavallee (El). We’ll be populating this page up until March.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Afternoon Delight – Jill Soloway: Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Ain’T Them Bodies Saints – David Lowery: El (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review // Interview
Austenland- Jerusha Hess: Nb (★): Review
C.O.G.- Kyle Patrick Alvarez: Js (★★ 1/2), Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Concussion – Stacie Passon: El (★★★), Js (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★): Review // Interview
Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes – Francesca Gregorini: Js (★★★), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review
Fruitvale – Ryan Coogler: El (★★★), Js (★★★★★), Nb (★★★★): Review // Interview // Video
In A World… – Lake Bell: El (★★★): Review
Kill Your Darlings – John Krokidas: El (★★★), Nb (★★★): Review
The Lifeguard – Liz W. Garcia: El (★★ 1/2): Review
May In The Summer...
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Afternoon Delight – Jill Soloway: Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Ain’T Them Bodies Saints – David Lowery: El (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review // Interview
Austenland- Jerusha Hess: Nb (★): Review
C.O.G.- Kyle Patrick Alvarez: Js (★★ 1/2), Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Concussion – Stacie Passon: El (★★★), Js (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★): Review // Interview
Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes – Francesca Gregorini: Js (★★★), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review
Fruitvale – Ryan Coogler: El (★★★), Js (★★★★★), Nb (★★★★): Review // Interview // Video
In A World… – Lake Bell: El (★★★): Review
Kill Your Darlings – John Krokidas: El (★★★), Nb (★★★): Review
The Lifeguard – Liz W. Garcia: El (★★ 1/2): Review
May In The Summer...
- 1/29/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale and Steve Hoover’s Blood Brother were the big winners at the 2013 edition of the Sundance Film Festival – both picked up the Audience awards and Grand Jury Prizes in their respective categories. Here’s the complete list of 2013 Sundance Film Festival Award winners:
Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic: “Fruitvale,” directed by Ryan Coogler
Grand Jury Prize, Documentary: “Blood Brother,” directed by Steve Hoover
World Cinema Jury Prize, Dramatic: “Jiseul,” directed by Muel O
World Cinema Jury Prize, Documentary: “A River Changes Course,” directed Kalyanee Mam
Dramatic Audience Award: “Fruitvale,” directed by Ryan Coogler
Documentary Audience Award: “Blood Brother,” directed by Steve Hoover
World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award: “Metro Manila,” directed by Sean Ellis
World Cinema Documentary Audience Award: “The Square,” directed by Jehane Noujaim
The Best of Next Audience Award: “This Is Martin Bonner,” directed by Chad Hartigan
Directing Award, Dramatic: Jill Solloway, “Afternoon Delight”
Directing Award,...
Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic: “Fruitvale,” directed by Ryan Coogler
Grand Jury Prize, Documentary: “Blood Brother,” directed by Steve Hoover
World Cinema Jury Prize, Dramatic: “Jiseul,” directed by Muel O
World Cinema Jury Prize, Documentary: “A River Changes Course,” directed Kalyanee Mam
Dramatic Audience Award: “Fruitvale,” directed by Ryan Coogler
Documentary Audience Award: “Blood Brother,” directed by Steve Hoover
World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award: “Metro Manila,” directed by Sean Ellis
World Cinema Documentary Audience Award: “The Square,” directed by Jehane Noujaim
The Best of Next Audience Award: “This Is Martin Bonner,” directed by Chad Hartigan
Directing Award, Dramatic: Jill Solloway, “Afternoon Delight”
Directing Award,...
- 1/29/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Yesterday at Park City, the awards were handed out with one of the hotly buzzed titles of the festival taking two major prizes.
The intense drama Fruitvale won both the Audience Award and U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, which reminds of when Precious won both in 2009, a year before it went on to become a Best Picture Oscar nominee.
The Ryan Coogler‘s film tells the story of the hours leading up to New Year’s Day in 2009, when the 22-year-old Oscar Grant was pulled off a rowdy Bart train at the Fruitvale station and was shot in the back, dying from his wounds.
The former chairman of 20th Century Fox, Tom Rothman said when presenting the prize:
This will not be the last time you guys walk to a podium.
Well, this statement suggests that history may well be getting ready to repeat itself.
The intense drama Fruitvale won both the Audience Award and U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, which reminds of when Precious won both in 2009, a year before it went on to become a Best Picture Oscar nominee.
The Ryan Coogler‘s film tells the story of the hours leading up to New Year’s Day in 2009, when the 22-year-old Oscar Grant was pulled off a rowdy Bart train at the Fruitvale station and was shot in the back, dying from his wounds.
The former chairman of 20th Century Fox, Tom Rothman said when presenting the prize:
This will not be the last time you guys walk to a podium.
Well, this statement suggests that history may well be getting ready to repeat itself.
- 1/27/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Ryan Coolger's "Fruitvale" and Steve Hoover's "Blood Brother" dominated the 2013 Sundance Film Festival awards! "Fruitvale," the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22-year old Bay Area resident shot in the back by Oakland transportation police, won the Grand Jury Prize (dramatic). Meanwhile, "Blood Brother," a documentary by Steve Hoover about Rocky Braat who went to India as a disillusioned American tourist and became an ally of children living with HIV/AIDS, took home the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary.
But what I'm very excited about is "Metro Manila" from BAFTA and Oscar-nominated director Sean Ellis. Shot in my homeland of the Philippines and using our dialect, Tagalog, entirely, "Metro Manila" is about Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal) and his family who flee their impoverished life in the rice fields of the northern Philippines in order to seek a brighter future in Manila.
Here's the full list of winners of 2013 Sundance Film Festival:
Grand Jury Prize,...
But what I'm very excited about is "Metro Manila" from BAFTA and Oscar-nominated director Sean Ellis. Shot in my homeland of the Philippines and using our dialect, Tagalog, entirely, "Metro Manila" is about Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal) and his family who flee their impoverished life in the rice fields of the northern Philippines in order to seek a brighter future in Manila.
Here's the full list of winners of 2013 Sundance Film Festival:
Grand Jury Prize,...
- 1/27/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
As the 2013 Sundance Film Festival begins to wind down, the winning short films in competition were announced at a ceremony Jan. 22.Taking home Sundance’s short film special jury award for acting was Joel Nagle, for his starring role in “Palimpsest.” Nagle, who’s appeared in “All My Children,” “Guiding Light” and numerous short films, plays a house tuner who provides his clients with an odd form of therapy by examining the subtle details of their homes. The film was directed by Michael Tyburski, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ben Nabors.Polish director Grzegorz Zariczny’s “The Whistle,” about a soccer referee who decides to change his life, is this year’s grand jury prize-winning short film, while the jury award for U.S. fiction shorts was given to writer-director Damien Chazelle for his film “Whiplash,” which centers on a drummer who joins a leading jazz orchestra. Finnish writer-director Jenni Toivoniemi...
- 1/24/2013
- backstage.com
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