Sundance NextFest kicks off in Downtown La today (if you missed our preview, check it out here) and Sundance Senior Programmer Charlie Reff took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to chat with us about what we're calling one of the coolest and most innovative film festivals happening. TwitchFilm: Tell us a bit about the philosophy of doing an event-driven film festival like Sundance NextFest. Reff: The idea is that with doing festivals in L.A., it's not easy to get people's attention. So that became the whole goal. Let's do something special and let's do something unique that's only going to happen once. And let's do something that's a good value (that right there tends to draw people). You have these very special...
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- 8/7/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Patrick Ewald and Shaked Berenson, the principals of Epic Pictures have been around the independent and international scene for many years. Mr. Berenson has served on the Ifta Board of Directors since September 2011. (Ifta, Independent Film and Television Association is the indie lobbying and trade organization that puts on the American Film Market every November in Santa Monica)
From film development, financing and production to international sales representation and U.S. distribution, Patrick and Shaked attribute their success to the people they work with rather than upon genres or formulaically successful pictures. They stress the need to find unique standout films to be made by people they trust and like. With so many films now being made (and released) Patrick and Shaked both stress the need to find films which will rise above the “white noise” of current films.
Read More: Exclusive: Epic Pictures' Award-winning 'Jeruzalem' U.S. Premiere Slated for August 23rd
Making the film is only a small part of the process and so they value the filmmakers themselves and in fact, choose their projects based upon the individuals making the film who will be with them for at least 18 more months making the festival and market rounds, publicizing the release in U.S. if not also for the launches in other countries and more importantly who will be with them on the next films they make as well.
They seek out relationships with exceptional producers and talent in order to secure A-level, high-quality projects both domestically and in Europe and Asia. Films they name as “standout unique films” are “She’s Gotta Have It”, “Laws of Gravity”, “Tampopo”.
They are gratified that Sundance has recognized the special qualities in both “Turbo Kid” and “ Entertainment." It affirms and legitimizes their own recognition of the next generation of filmmakers with unique views of what makes a movie special. And to see them in the almost sold-out vintage 1,500 seat Theatre at the Ace Hotel, one of L.A.’s most lavish and historic film venues, downtown at 9th and Broadway will be great.
Both of these films are distinctly unique. One was in Sundance’s Midnight Section and the other was in the Next section this past January.
Read More: Sundance Next Fest Happens This Weekend in L.A.
“Turbo Kid” producer Ant Timpson from “The ABCs of Death” of Magnolia Pictures called them about the project. He had some money and the film was in pre-production but they needed final equity. Anne-Marie Gélinas
in Quebec arranged the equity with a Canadian bank. She is very straight forward; it took four days to make the deal and in six or seven days the money was all in. Being independent allows for such quick turnaround. And knowing the people attached for such a long time made the decision easy. Jason Eisener from “Hobo with a Shotgun” and Ant Simpson were key.
“Turbo Kid” is a fan boy comic book film but when they read the script, they knew it was not easy; other companies would be more risk-adverse, but they trusted the filmmakers to deliver. Now everyone is bringing them special films. Formula films are more certain, but less interesting to them. When they choose well, as they did with “Turbo Kid”, then they want to make more movies with those filmmakers.
“Turbo Kid” which premiered in Sundance has gone on the festival route to win Best Director at Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, the Audience Award at SXSW Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Film and Best Art Direction (Sylvain Lemaitre ) at Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival. Epic Pictures Releasing will release the film “day & date” in theaters and premium VOD in the U.S. and U.K. (through Lionsgate) on August 28. Next will be its Los Angeles Premiere.
"Turbo Kid" / Canada, New Zealand (Directors and screenwriters: Anouk Whissell, François Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell) — Set in a post apocalyptic year of 1997, this nostalgic tribute to ’80s action-adventure films follows an orphaned teenager who goes on an adventure to save his female-robot companion from the hands of the evil warlord who controls the only water supply. Cast: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffery, Edwin Wright.
The comparison between “Turbo Kid” and “Entertainment” is vast. Where “Turbo Kid” was completely planned with a perfectly orchestrated visual style, dialogue, pacing, music, clearly blueprinted in every detail, “Entertainment” which they entered at pre-production stage was in Rick Alverson’s head and not at all on the page. Rick said he knew it would work and they had to trust him to deliver. Initially Epic was financing a big chunk of equity but at a certain point another investor took a larger piece; however Epic was committed to financing whatever was missing. Magnolia will release the film in the U.S.; it is a perfect fit for them. Cinetic was the producer rep on the film. Epic will represent the film internationally and has already licensed it to NonStop for Sweden. It is playing Locarno this August 5-15 competing for the Golden Leopard; that is a perfect stage for it to be seen by European distributors.
"Entertainment " / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Gregg Turkington, Tim Heidecker) — In an attempt to revive his dwindling career and reunite with his estranged daughter, a broken, aging comedian plays a string of dead-end shows in the California desert. Cast: Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, Lotte Verbeek. Los Angeles Premiere
Epic not only acquires third-party projects but initiates and produces its own films like “Tales of Halloween” which just premiered in Fantasia Film Festval. Mike Mendez presented the concept to them and two months later they were shooting this omnibus by ten high profile genre directors. Epic will release it theatrically on October 16, to be followed by “ Jeruzalem” a perfect film at a perfect time for an Israeli horror film.
Headquartered in Hollywood, California, Epic Pictures Group is a worldwide film and television production, financing, international sales and domestic distribution company. Epic Pictures Group represents worldwide sales for both its own slate of films and third party content with an annual slate of ten to twenty films. Its U.S. distribution operation Epic Pictures Releasing directly books in theaters, and makes its own TV and home video digital deals.
Patrick Ewald became the CEO of worldwide theatrical motion picture company Epic Pictures Group, Inc. in 2007. Mr. Ewald’s career in the film business spans over 17 years as a senior level executive and he has been involved in the development, financing, production and marketing of over 100 films. A New York City native, Mr. Ewald graduated from Duke University with a degree in film studies.
Read More: Sundance Programmer Charlie Reff Dishes Out About Next Fest 2015
Shaked Berenson is the COO and Co-Founder of Epic Pictures Group and oversees the day-to-day operations with an active hand in the development and production of all its films and television projects. During his five years with Epic Pictures Group, Mr. Berenson has produced and executive produced over twelve movies including the Animated “Space Dogs 3D” which grossed over $20 million in worldwide box-office. Most recently, Mr. Berenson produced 'Mega Spider' by Mike Mendez ('gravedancers').
Epic Pictures Group http://www.epic-pictures.com 6725 Sunset Blvd., Ste 330 Hollywood, CA 90028 Youtube: youtube.com/epicpicturesgroup
Facebook:facebook.com/epicpicturesgroup
Twitter: twitter.com/epic_pictures
Pinterest: pinterest.com/epicpictures...
From film development, financing and production to international sales representation and U.S. distribution, Patrick and Shaked attribute their success to the people they work with rather than upon genres or formulaically successful pictures. They stress the need to find unique standout films to be made by people they trust and like. With so many films now being made (and released) Patrick and Shaked both stress the need to find films which will rise above the “white noise” of current films.
Read More: Exclusive: Epic Pictures' Award-winning 'Jeruzalem' U.S. Premiere Slated for August 23rd
Making the film is only a small part of the process and so they value the filmmakers themselves and in fact, choose their projects based upon the individuals making the film who will be with them for at least 18 more months making the festival and market rounds, publicizing the release in U.S. if not also for the launches in other countries and more importantly who will be with them on the next films they make as well.
They seek out relationships with exceptional producers and talent in order to secure A-level, high-quality projects both domestically and in Europe and Asia. Films they name as “standout unique films” are “She’s Gotta Have It”, “Laws of Gravity”, “Tampopo”.
They are gratified that Sundance has recognized the special qualities in both “Turbo Kid” and “ Entertainment." It affirms and legitimizes their own recognition of the next generation of filmmakers with unique views of what makes a movie special. And to see them in the almost sold-out vintage 1,500 seat Theatre at the Ace Hotel, one of L.A.’s most lavish and historic film venues, downtown at 9th and Broadway will be great.
Both of these films are distinctly unique. One was in Sundance’s Midnight Section and the other was in the Next section this past January.
Read More: Sundance Next Fest Happens This Weekend in L.A.
“Turbo Kid” producer Ant Timpson from “The ABCs of Death” of Magnolia Pictures called them about the project. He had some money and the film was in pre-production but they needed final equity. Anne-Marie Gélinas
in Quebec arranged the equity with a Canadian bank. She is very straight forward; it took four days to make the deal and in six or seven days the money was all in. Being independent allows for such quick turnaround. And knowing the people attached for such a long time made the decision easy. Jason Eisener from “Hobo with a Shotgun” and Ant Simpson were key.
“Turbo Kid” is a fan boy comic book film but when they read the script, they knew it was not easy; other companies would be more risk-adverse, but they trusted the filmmakers to deliver. Now everyone is bringing them special films. Formula films are more certain, but less interesting to them. When they choose well, as they did with “Turbo Kid”, then they want to make more movies with those filmmakers.
“Turbo Kid” which premiered in Sundance has gone on the festival route to win Best Director at Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, the Audience Award at SXSW Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Film and Best Art Direction (Sylvain Lemaitre ) at Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival. Epic Pictures Releasing will release the film “day & date” in theaters and premium VOD in the U.S. and U.K. (through Lionsgate) on August 28. Next will be its Los Angeles Premiere.
"Turbo Kid" / Canada, New Zealand (Directors and screenwriters: Anouk Whissell, François Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell) — Set in a post apocalyptic year of 1997, this nostalgic tribute to ’80s action-adventure films follows an orphaned teenager who goes on an adventure to save his female-robot companion from the hands of the evil warlord who controls the only water supply. Cast: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffery, Edwin Wright.
The comparison between “Turbo Kid” and “Entertainment” is vast. Where “Turbo Kid” was completely planned with a perfectly orchestrated visual style, dialogue, pacing, music, clearly blueprinted in every detail, “Entertainment” which they entered at pre-production stage was in Rick Alverson’s head and not at all on the page. Rick said he knew it would work and they had to trust him to deliver. Initially Epic was financing a big chunk of equity but at a certain point another investor took a larger piece; however Epic was committed to financing whatever was missing. Magnolia will release the film in the U.S.; it is a perfect fit for them. Cinetic was the producer rep on the film. Epic will represent the film internationally and has already licensed it to NonStop for Sweden. It is playing Locarno this August 5-15 competing for the Golden Leopard; that is a perfect stage for it to be seen by European distributors.
"Entertainment " / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Gregg Turkington, Tim Heidecker) — In an attempt to revive his dwindling career and reunite with his estranged daughter, a broken, aging comedian plays a string of dead-end shows in the California desert. Cast: Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, Lotte Verbeek. Los Angeles Premiere
Epic not only acquires third-party projects but initiates and produces its own films like “Tales of Halloween” which just premiered in Fantasia Film Festval. Mike Mendez presented the concept to them and two months later they were shooting this omnibus by ten high profile genre directors. Epic will release it theatrically on October 16, to be followed by “ Jeruzalem” a perfect film at a perfect time for an Israeli horror film.
Headquartered in Hollywood, California, Epic Pictures Group is a worldwide film and television production, financing, international sales and domestic distribution company. Epic Pictures Group represents worldwide sales for both its own slate of films and third party content with an annual slate of ten to twenty films. Its U.S. distribution operation Epic Pictures Releasing directly books in theaters, and makes its own TV and home video digital deals.
Patrick Ewald became the CEO of worldwide theatrical motion picture company Epic Pictures Group, Inc. in 2007. Mr. Ewald’s career in the film business spans over 17 years as a senior level executive and he has been involved in the development, financing, production and marketing of over 100 films. A New York City native, Mr. Ewald graduated from Duke University with a degree in film studies.
Read More: Sundance Programmer Charlie Reff Dishes Out About Next Fest 2015
Shaked Berenson is the COO and Co-Founder of Epic Pictures Group and oversees the day-to-day operations with an active hand in the development and production of all its films and television projects. During his five years with Epic Pictures Group, Mr. Berenson has produced and executive produced over twelve movies including the Animated “Space Dogs 3D” which grossed over $20 million in worldwide box-office. Most recently, Mr. Berenson produced 'Mega Spider' by Mike Mendez ('gravedancers').
Epic Pictures Group http://www.epic-pictures.com 6725 Sunset Blvd., Ste 330 Hollywood, CA 90028 Youtube: youtube.com/epicpicturesgroup
Facebook:facebook.com/epicpicturesgroup
Twitter: twitter.com/epic_pictures
Pinterest: pinterest.com/epicpictures...
- 8/7/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
At their annual retreat, the traditional internal kick-off for the big Sundance Film Festival this January, programmer Charlie Reff was able to take some time to talk with me about Next Fest.
My colleague Carlos Aguilar has already written about this big L.A. event here, so I will cover other areas and fill in on the music components of the film program.
Each film is its own event so that audiences will go to one film and not necessarily all films. Though the series package is selling well, the individual ticket sales are significant not only selling out but in bringing in new audiences. Getting L.A. people’s attention is not an easy task, but the pairing of movies and music in the unique way Next is creating, plus the spectacular venue, the Theatre at the Ace Hotel, one of L.A.’s most lavish and historic film venues, downtown at 9th and Broadway, will also bring out new audiences who care about preservation of our art deco landmarks.
This year more than half the films that showed in Sundance came out quickly theatrically this spring and summer followed by their VOD releases. If they did not get released theatrically then they were eligible to be chosen for Next if they were sufficiently “renegade” in the best spirit of indie filmmakers, like past films “Obvious Child”, “Compliance”, “Appropriate Behavior”, “Tangerine” and “Escape from Tomorrow”.
Out of the six films chosen for the unconventional and forward thinking of their narrative styles – including one doc -- there is a full range of experience to be had.
Four films showing in the evening are paired with live musical acts which somehow fit the film in mood or in ideas and are new and next in film and music.
In addition there will be three world premiere music videos and a full-body, mind-blowing virtual reality flight simulator, Birdly which was shown this past Sundance in the New Frontier exhibition. You can experience being a bird from a first-person perspective through a full-body virtual reality set up….it’s free, in the mezzanine of The Theatre of the Ace Hotel and available through an onsite waitlist system.
The world premiere music videos are Superhumanoid’s music video for “Anxious in Venice”, premiering Friday along with Noah Baumbach’s out of the mold “Mistress America” (Fox Searchlight) followed by a live performance by Sky Ferreira.Health’s album trailer for “Death Magic” as part of Saturday evening’s screening of “ Entertainment“ (Magnolia Releasing) starring Michael Cera will be followed by a solo performance by Sharon Van Etten. “Death Magic” is directed by acclaimed graphic designer, title designer, and editor Pablo Ferro, who has worked alongside some of the most respected filmmakers of all time including Stanley Kubrick, Hal Ashby and Tim Burton. An experimental short film by Eddie Alcazar with soundtrack by Flying Lotus, “Fuckkkyouuu”, will premiere Sunday at the “Turbo Kid” (Epic Pictures Releasing) screening with a back-to-back DJ battle between Neon Indian and Toro Y Moi.
Pairing music audiences with movie audiences aims to bring new awareness of new art canvasses to people who do not have a lot of crossover knowledge of film on one hand or of music on the other. Musicians often want to make movies and both they and filmmakers have had the carpets pulled out from under them and are struggling to find their way amidst digitization. It seems self-evident that fimmakers appreciate music since soundtracks and even the most incidental music in a film can make or break it. By pairing “Mistress America” with Sky Ferreira, Charlie is sure Sky’s fans will love “Mistress America” which will result in new discussions and will perhaps begin to define how to make sense of movies to music audiences. The cross-pollination of audiences enriches everyone.
The two daytime films, “Cronies” by Michael Larnell and “Finders Keepers” will be followed by conversations, paired respectively with Robert Townsend, one of the Godfathers of the Independent Film World, actor, writer, director and producer of first of “Hollywood Shuffle” followed by many other films; and Saturday’s “Finders Keepers” directors Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel with Thomas Middletich (“Silicon Valley” ) along with the film’s subject John Wood himself! Speakers were chosen by the filmmakers who were told to ask who was influential them them and who would they want to see their film.
Among the filmmakers, cast and musicians expected to attend Sundance Next Fest are Rick Alverson, Noah Baumbach, Bryan Carberry, Munro Chambers, Greta Gerwig, Health, Tim Heidecker, Lola Kirke, Michael Larnell, François Simard, Superhumanoids, Gregg Turkington, Clay Tweel, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell.
Attendance is expected to be around 10,000 judging by lat year’s numbers. Last year all three film with music event was sold out. The opening screening in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery was huge and the screenings over three days had about 1,000 at each event.
Next is not just a film festival; it is an Event.
Sundance Next Fest is supported by Principal Sponsors – Acura and Adobe; Major Sponsor – Kickstarter; Media Sponsor – Kcrw; and Supporting Sponsors – Beachside Films, Dolby, FilmL.A., Inc., ShopHouse, Shudder, Skullcandy®, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois®, The Theatre at Ace Hotel and the Utah Film Commission. As part of their presence at the festival, Adobe and Kickstarter will host panels open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons;
Below is the full program in detail. Even more details and tickets ($15-25) now on sale can be found at sundance.org/next.
Friday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.
"Anxious in Venice" (Band: Superhumanoids, Director: Taylor Cohen) — It's 4:37 a.m. and someone straps a camera to your chest. Nearby, your hungover bandmate sips gas station coffee and the director yells about missing the sunrise. You hate performance music videos but you're sure this one will be different. Then again, when you've been up all night and are shooting without a permit -- you can't be sure of anything. Welcome to Anxious In Venice. Music Video. World Premiere
"Mistress America" / U.S.A. (Director: Noah Baumbach, Screenwriters: Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig) — Tracy is a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke's alluringly mad schemes. Cast: Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke. Los Angeles Premiere
Sky Ferreira — Sky Ferreira has quickly established herself as one of today’s most exciting new faces in music, film and fashion. She first signed to Capitol Records at the early age of 15 where she eventually wrote & executive produced her critically acclaimed debut album, Night Time, My Time. As an actress, she has worked with many independent filmmakers including Eli Roth, Liza Johnson & Matthew Porterfield. Sky is currently recording her highly anticipated new album, Masochism.
Saturday, August 8, 3:30 p.m.
"Finders Keepers" / U.S.A. (Directors: Bryan Carberry, Clay Tweel) — Recovering addict and amputee John Wood finds himself in a stranger-than-fiction battle to reclaim his mummified leg from Southern entrepreneur Shannon Whisnant, who found it in a grill he bought at an auction and believes it, therefore, to be his rightful property. Los Angeles Premiere
Followed by a conversation between directors Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel, subject John Wood and special guests Aubrey Plaza and Thomas Middleditch.
Saturday, August 8, 8:00 p.m.
"Death Magic" (Band: Health, Director: Pablo Ferro) — The sun slowly sets; its beauty soundtracked by a serene yet melancholy sound. As the last rays of light slip behind the clouds, a violent transformation takes place. The music, ever-changing and explosive, creates the imagery… supergraphic and never seen before! The quick cuts in sync with the music, introduce the emotional range and complexity of Health’S new album Death Magic. Album Trailer. World Premiere
"Entertainment" / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Gregg Turkington, Tim Heidecker) — In an attempt to revive his dwindling career and reunite with his estranged daughter, a broken, aging comedian plays a string of dead-end shows in the California desert. Cast: Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, Lotte Verbeek. Los Angeles Premiere
Sharon Van Etten — Singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten writes from free-flowing emotional honesty and vulnerability, creating a bond with the listener that few contemporary musicians can match. Following her 2012 break-through Tramp, last year’s follow up Are We There and her new Ep I Don’t Want to Let You Down, Van Etten finds herself in full stride, writing, producing and performing.
Sunday, August 9, 3:30 p.m.
"Cronies" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael J. Larnell) — Twenty-two-year-old Louis doesn’t know whether his childhood friendship with Jack will last beyond today. Cast: George Sample III, Zurich Buckner, Brian Kowalski. Los Angeles Premiere
Followed by a conversation between director Michael J. Larnell and special guest Robert Townsend.
Sunday, August 9, 8:00 p.m.
"Fuckkkyouuu" (Director: Eddie Alcazar, Music: Flying Lotus) — With the ability to travel in time, a lonely girl finds love and comfort by connecting with her past self. Eventually faced with rejection she struggles with her identity and gender, and as time folds onto itself only one of them can remain. Cast: Jesse Sullivan, Charles Baker. Experimental Short / Music Video. World Premiere
"Turbo Kid" / Canada, New Zealand (Directors and screenwriters: Anouk Whissell, François Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell) — Set in a post apocalyptic year of 1997, this nostalgic tribute to ’80s action-adventure films follows an orphaned teenager who goes on an adventure to save his female-robot companion from the hands of the evil warlord who controls the only water supply. Cast: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffery, Edwin Wright. Los Angeles Premiere
Neon Indian (DJ set) B2B Toro Y Moi (DJ set) — Neon Indian, the brainchild of Alan Palomo, is defined by a unique electro-mangled sound which has attracted fans and opening slots before acts like Massive Attack, The Flaming Lips, Phoenix and Chromeo. Toro Y Moi, the guise of Chaz Bundick, channels a wide swath of stylistic influences into his electronics-incorporating music and cites Big Star, Talking Heads and Todd Rundgren as some of his inspirations.
My colleague Carlos Aguilar has already written about this big L.A. event here, so I will cover other areas and fill in on the music components of the film program.
Each film is its own event so that audiences will go to one film and not necessarily all films. Though the series package is selling well, the individual ticket sales are significant not only selling out but in bringing in new audiences. Getting L.A. people’s attention is not an easy task, but the pairing of movies and music in the unique way Next is creating, plus the spectacular venue, the Theatre at the Ace Hotel, one of L.A.’s most lavish and historic film venues, downtown at 9th and Broadway, will also bring out new audiences who care about preservation of our art deco landmarks.
This year more than half the films that showed in Sundance came out quickly theatrically this spring and summer followed by their VOD releases. If they did not get released theatrically then they were eligible to be chosen for Next if they were sufficiently “renegade” in the best spirit of indie filmmakers, like past films “Obvious Child”, “Compliance”, “Appropriate Behavior”, “Tangerine” and “Escape from Tomorrow”.
Out of the six films chosen for the unconventional and forward thinking of their narrative styles – including one doc -- there is a full range of experience to be had.
Four films showing in the evening are paired with live musical acts which somehow fit the film in mood or in ideas and are new and next in film and music.
In addition there will be three world premiere music videos and a full-body, mind-blowing virtual reality flight simulator, Birdly which was shown this past Sundance in the New Frontier exhibition. You can experience being a bird from a first-person perspective through a full-body virtual reality set up….it’s free, in the mezzanine of The Theatre of the Ace Hotel and available through an onsite waitlist system.
The world premiere music videos are Superhumanoid’s music video for “Anxious in Venice”, premiering Friday along with Noah Baumbach’s out of the mold “Mistress America” (Fox Searchlight) followed by a live performance by Sky Ferreira.Health’s album trailer for “Death Magic” as part of Saturday evening’s screening of “ Entertainment“ (Magnolia Releasing) starring Michael Cera will be followed by a solo performance by Sharon Van Etten. “Death Magic” is directed by acclaimed graphic designer, title designer, and editor Pablo Ferro, who has worked alongside some of the most respected filmmakers of all time including Stanley Kubrick, Hal Ashby and Tim Burton. An experimental short film by Eddie Alcazar with soundtrack by Flying Lotus, “Fuckkkyouuu”, will premiere Sunday at the “Turbo Kid” (Epic Pictures Releasing) screening with a back-to-back DJ battle between Neon Indian and Toro Y Moi.
Pairing music audiences with movie audiences aims to bring new awareness of new art canvasses to people who do not have a lot of crossover knowledge of film on one hand or of music on the other. Musicians often want to make movies and both they and filmmakers have had the carpets pulled out from under them and are struggling to find their way amidst digitization. It seems self-evident that fimmakers appreciate music since soundtracks and even the most incidental music in a film can make or break it. By pairing “Mistress America” with Sky Ferreira, Charlie is sure Sky’s fans will love “Mistress America” which will result in new discussions and will perhaps begin to define how to make sense of movies to music audiences. The cross-pollination of audiences enriches everyone.
The two daytime films, “Cronies” by Michael Larnell and “Finders Keepers” will be followed by conversations, paired respectively with Robert Townsend, one of the Godfathers of the Independent Film World, actor, writer, director and producer of first of “Hollywood Shuffle” followed by many other films; and Saturday’s “Finders Keepers” directors Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel with Thomas Middletich (“Silicon Valley” ) along with the film’s subject John Wood himself! Speakers were chosen by the filmmakers who were told to ask who was influential them them and who would they want to see their film.
Among the filmmakers, cast and musicians expected to attend Sundance Next Fest are Rick Alverson, Noah Baumbach, Bryan Carberry, Munro Chambers, Greta Gerwig, Health, Tim Heidecker, Lola Kirke, Michael Larnell, François Simard, Superhumanoids, Gregg Turkington, Clay Tweel, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell.
Attendance is expected to be around 10,000 judging by lat year’s numbers. Last year all three film with music event was sold out. The opening screening in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery was huge and the screenings over three days had about 1,000 at each event.
Next is not just a film festival; it is an Event.
Sundance Next Fest is supported by Principal Sponsors – Acura and Adobe; Major Sponsor – Kickstarter; Media Sponsor – Kcrw; and Supporting Sponsors – Beachside Films, Dolby, FilmL.A., Inc., ShopHouse, Shudder, Skullcandy®, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois®, The Theatre at Ace Hotel and the Utah Film Commission. As part of their presence at the festival, Adobe and Kickstarter will host panels open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons;
Below is the full program in detail. Even more details and tickets ($15-25) now on sale can be found at sundance.org/next.
Friday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.
"Anxious in Venice" (Band: Superhumanoids, Director: Taylor Cohen) — It's 4:37 a.m. and someone straps a camera to your chest. Nearby, your hungover bandmate sips gas station coffee and the director yells about missing the sunrise. You hate performance music videos but you're sure this one will be different. Then again, when you've been up all night and are shooting without a permit -- you can't be sure of anything. Welcome to Anxious In Venice. Music Video. World Premiere
"Mistress America" / U.S.A. (Director: Noah Baumbach, Screenwriters: Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig) — Tracy is a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke's alluringly mad schemes. Cast: Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke. Los Angeles Premiere
Sky Ferreira — Sky Ferreira has quickly established herself as one of today’s most exciting new faces in music, film and fashion. She first signed to Capitol Records at the early age of 15 where she eventually wrote & executive produced her critically acclaimed debut album, Night Time, My Time. As an actress, she has worked with many independent filmmakers including Eli Roth, Liza Johnson & Matthew Porterfield. Sky is currently recording her highly anticipated new album, Masochism.
Saturday, August 8, 3:30 p.m.
"Finders Keepers" / U.S.A. (Directors: Bryan Carberry, Clay Tweel) — Recovering addict and amputee John Wood finds himself in a stranger-than-fiction battle to reclaim his mummified leg from Southern entrepreneur Shannon Whisnant, who found it in a grill he bought at an auction and believes it, therefore, to be his rightful property. Los Angeles Premiere
Followed by a conversation between directors Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel, subject John Wood and special guests Aubrey Plaza and Thomas Middleditch.
Saturday, August 8, 8:00 p.m.
"Death Magic" (Band: Health, Director: Pablo Ferro) — The sun slowly sets; its beauty soundtracked by a serene yet melancholy sound. As the last rays of light slip behind the clouds, a violent transformation takes place. The music, ever-changing and explosive, creates the imagery… supergraphic and never seen before! The quick cuts in sync with the music, introduce the emotional range and complexity of Health’S new album Death Magic. Album Trailer. World Premiere
"Entertainment" / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Gregg Turkington, Tim Heidecker) — In an attempt to revive his dwindling career and reunite with his estranged daughter, a broken, aging comedian plays a string of dead-end shows in the California desert. Cast: Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, Lotte Verbeek. Los Angeles Premiere
Sharon Van Etten — Singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten writes from free-flowing emotional honesty and vulnerability, creating a bond with the listener that few contemporary musicians can match. Following her 2012 break-through Tramp, last year’s follow up Are We There and her new Ep I Don’t Want to Let You Down, Van Etten finds herself in full stride, writing, producing and performing.
Sunday, August 9, 3:30 p.m.
"Cronies" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael J. Larnell) — Twenty-two-year-old Louis doesn’t know whether his childhood friendship with Jack will last beyond today. Cast: George Sample III, Zurich Buckner, Brian Kowalski. Los Angeles Premiere
Followed by a conversation between director Michael J. Larnell and special guest Robert Townsend.
Sunday, August 9, 8:00 p.m.
"Fuckkkyouuu" (Director: Eddie Alcazar, Music: Flying Lotus) — With the ability to travel in time, a lonely girl finds love and comfort by connecting with her past self. Eventually faced with rejection she struggles with her identity and gender, and as time folds onto itself only one of them can remain. Cast: Jesse Sullivan, Charles Baker. Experimental Short / Music Video. World Premiere
"Turbo Kid" / Canada, New Zealand (Directors and screenwriters: Anouk Whissell, François Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell) — Set in a post apocalyptic year of 1997, this nostalgic tribute to ’80s action-adventure films follows an orphaned teenager who goes on an adventure to save his female-robot companion from the hands of the evil warlord who controls the only water supply. Cast: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffery, Edwin Wright. Los Angeles Premiere
Neon Indian (DJ set) B2B Toro Y Moi (DJ set) — Neon Indian, the brainchild of Alan Palomo, is defined by a unique electro-mangled sound which has attracted fans and opening slots before acts like Massive Attack, The Flaming Lips, Phoenix and Chromeo. Toro Y Moi, the guise of Chaz Bundick, channels a wide swath of stylistic influences into his electronics-incorporating music and cites Big Star, Talking Heads and Todd Rundgren as some of his inspirations.
- 8/6/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
One of Los Angeles’ most lavish and historic film venues, The Theater at Ace Hotel, will host Sundance Next Fest once again August 7-9. Cinema and music come together for a second time during this weekend–long event that will showcase 5 films representing distinctively unique visions. These independent works taken from several sections within this year’s Park City program will screen for L.A. audiences followed by either a musical act or a special guest speaker. Last year the slate included “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, “Imperial Dreams” and "Life After Beth," which were accompanied by performers Warpaint, Tinashe, and Father John Misty, respectively. Thanks to the eclectic pairings, Next Fest became one of the most memorable festivals to take place in the city.
This time around the program looks even more compelling with a variety of filmmaking approaches that include the latest Noah Baumbach/Greta Gerwig collaboration, Rick Alverson’s new mind-bending flick, and an offbeat documentary that borders on the surreal.The festival kicked-off on Sunday with a packed outdoor screening of Jon Watts's "Cop Car" at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosted alongside Cinespia.
We talked to Sundance programmer Charlie Reff who shared his excitement for the film selection and dished out about the process of curating such peculiar celebration of audiovisual creativity.
Aguilar: It seems like the batch of films included in this year's Next Fest comes from a variety of sections in the Sundance 2015 program. You have films not only from the Next section, but also from Midnight, Premieres, and even a documentary. Tell me about the process or parameters to select these films.
Charlie Reff: This is the third year of the festival, counting the first year as Next Weekend, and we’ve never had specifically only Next section films. I believe last year we played four films from the Next section. We played a film from Midnight last year, and we played a doc called “Cutie and the Boxer” the first year. We definitely want to keep the diversity of the lineup. We still feel all the films are representative of Next. We like that Next is this idea of artistic pursuits that have an unconventional approach to storytelling, even a film like “Mistress America.” The reason we wanted to play that is because when Noah works with Greta in films like “Frances Ha” and now “Mistress America," they don’t feel like his other films. His other films have a certain tone and point of view, but when he and Greta had gone off to make these films, they are wildly different stylistically from the other films he’s done.
Even in the first year of the festival we were hoping to play a film like “Prince Avalanche,” but it came out before the festival. That was David Gordon Green, a studio guy being like, “Fuck it, I wanna go make a weird unique film without anybody holding me back.” We want to show films form the filmmakers that are still willing to go in this direction and the new generation that’s coming up and is committed to it still. I feel like it makes sense including a doc. I love “Finders Keepers,” it was one my favorite films at the festival and it’s just so unique. It’s such a unique watch for a documentary film. We want to champion the different approaches people are taking.
Aguilar: So you sit down with your team to figure out what films to play at Next Fest and go through every possible film from the Park City program?
Charlie Reff: One thing that’s actually interesting, is that first thing we think about is that any film released before the festival is automatically off the table. It was actually really unique this year distribution-wise because I think so many films rushed to release this year. I don’t know if you noticed that, but there were so many films coming out in the summer and the spring that were just acquired or coming out on VOD. That’s one thing that wipes away nearly half the slate. Beyond that, there are a lot of films that we want to play, but we need them all to have this unique Next quality that I talked about.
Aguilar: So you probably wouldn’t play a film like “Brooklyn,” which is very classical in terms of the filmmaking style and approach.
Charlie Reff: Exactly. I love the hell out of “Brooklyn,” but it’s so wonderfully classical that it would never play at Next Fest. The interesting thing that we always talk about when programming the Park City festival, and that it’s always a difficult thing for people to understand, is that every film that plays in the Next section could potentially play in our U.S. Dramatic Competition, but not every film in the U.S. Dramatic Competition could play in Next. They need to have that wild inventive quality to them, and that’s not to disrespect films that use classic storytelling, but that’s just how Next Fest is.
Aguilar: How do you decide what musical act goes well with a certain film? It seems like a complicated task and a leap of faith because it's difficult to know how an audience will react to a certain combination.
Charlie Reff: After going through it last year programming Next Fest and then programming last year’s and this year’s Park City festivals, as soon as I was watching a movie that I knew we were going to play and felt like a potentially cool Next Fest film, I was automatically already brainstorming ideas. It was like, “What would be an interesting crossover audience for this film? What musician has the right fan base that would love this film?” or vice versa, “The fan base for this film, what music do I think that they’ll be really into?“ I start thinking about the films and the music in my head and with my phone all the way back in November. We have the films to bring to people in, so I think about what music could be interesting and could make sort of a big statement.
With “Mistress America” I always wanted to pair it with Sky Ferreira. I’m a big fan of her. I know “Mistress America” has the Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig fan base. They pull that audience, so it’s about, “What can we do different? What audience could we bring to this film that would really get into it?” I started thinking about an ideal musician for the female, college-age, twenty-something, audience. “What artist can we bring in that would pull that kind of audience to ‘Mistress America’?" They maybe don’t know about the film yet, but they’ll fucking love it! That’s how the program for “Mistress America” came about.
“Entertainment” and Sharon Van Etten was a really hard one to pull together just because it’s such a singular and provocative film. I had conversations with Rick Alverson, the director of the film, about what kind of mood would be good for after the film. We were thinking of something really aggressive afterwards and Rick wasn’t really into that idea. He said, “Honestly, it’s quite a ride you are putting that audience through with the film and it probably wouldn’t be good to put even more in-your-face kind of intensity after.” We thought that the film was almost like a folk tale and that it has that wanderer feel to it, so I started thinking about folksy artists. Sharon Van Etten popped into my head because I love her and she is beyond talented. When I think of all the films that I’ve watched in the world and all the music that I’ve listened to, I realize that Rick Alverson is a filmmaker that throws me for a loop when I watch his films. As much as I think that I understand cinema, when I see his films they completely disorient me. That’s what’s special about him. Maybe this has happened to you with other filmmakers, but he blows my mind so much that I kind of almost stop breathing and I think, “What the fuck am I seeing? What is he putting us through? What is he exploring? “ At the same time Sharon Van Ette is so raw. She is such a beautiful performer. Once when I was watching her set I found myself really listening to what she was singing about and I was like, “Wow, this sis really, really personal.” This is how the selection happens. It’s not some specific formula.
Regarding “Turbo Kid,” it’s always been a dream to do something like this from the moment of pitching idea of Next Fest. I would always talk about, “Man, there are all these films coming out that are pulling from 80s aesthetics and there is a very similar strand of music.” It’s such a popular thing and I thought that’s something we would do one year. Then “Turbo Kid” came along and I was like, “Fuck Yeah!” This is the ultimate movie to do this with and celebrate the idea of this generations that’s influenced by the sounds and aesthetics of the 80s. Toro Y Moi are two of my favorite artists that really experiment with those sounds and push them forward. The greatest thing about them is that neither one of them do it ironically or mocking. There is sincerity in the love for the music they are creating and the music from the time period that has been so influential for them. That’s what “Turbo Kid“ is too. It’s not an ironic film, is a love letter and it’s shockingly sincere about its love of the 80s. That’s something I wanted to do. I didn’t want to make a joke of the 80s, I wanted people who love the 80s.
Aguilar: The other two films will have a special Q&A instead of a musical act. What can you tell me about the speakers that will accompany the films and filmmakers?
Charlie Reff: We always talk to the filmmakers and we ask for ideas from them. With “Cronies” by Michael Larnell, we will have a filmmaker that came before him and that was “the guy” who he felt understood what they were creating. The speaker will be Robert Townsend.
With "Finders Keepers" we wanted a really fun conversation and we chose someone who will ask the really fun and exciting questions out of all the questions that someone could ask the filmmaker. We will have Thomas Middletich to ask the strange questions about the reality of the story. We will also have John, the subject for the film there as well.
Aguilar: Next Fest is back at the Theater at Ace Hotel, which is a fantastic venue. It feels like the ideal place to show these films in L.A.
Charlie Reff: We love working with them. They have been incredibly supportive. They got it. Two years before the very first festival, when we it was called Next Weekend, we had already visited the Ace Hotel while it was still under construction. We were exploring this idea that maybe it’ll be fun to play new independent films in old movie palaces. I love the idea because I think these places are incredibly special. That was in the back of our heads and then when we heard about the Ace being done, we went to them and explain what we were trying to do and they were like, “Yeah, we are in.” We love being there.
Find out more about Sundance Next Fest 2015 and get tickets to the events Here...
This time around the program looks even more compelling with a variety of filmmaking approaches that include the latest Noah Baumbach/Greta Gerwig collaboration, Rick Alverson’s new mind-bending flick, and an offbeat documentary that borders on the surreal.The festival kicked-off on Sunday with a packed outdoor screening of Jon Watts's "Cop Car" at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosted alongside Cinespia.
We talked to Sundance programmer Charlie Reff who shared his excitement for the film selection and dished out about the process of curating such peculiar celebration of audiovisual creativity.
Aguilar: It seems like the batch of films included in this year's Next Fest comes from a variety of sections in the Sundance 2015 program. You have films not only from the Next section, but also from Midnight, Premieres, and even a documentary. Tell me about the process or parameters to select these films.
Charlie Reff: This is the third year of the festival, counting the first year as Next Weekend, and we’ve never had specifically only Next section films. I believe last year we played four films from the Next section. We played a film from Midnight last year, and we played a doc called “Cutie and the Boxer” the first year. We definitely want to keep the diversity of the lineup. We still feel all the films are representative of Next. We like that Next is this idea of artistic pursuits that have an unconventional approach to storytelling, even a film like “Mistress America.” The reason we wanted to play that is because when Noah works with Greta in films like “Frances Ha” and now “Mistress America," they don’t feel like his other films. His other films have a certain tone and point of view, but when he and Greta had gone off to make these films, they are wildly different stylistically from the other films he’s done.
Even in the first year of the festival we were hoping to play a film like “Prince Avalanche,” but it came out before the festival. That was David Gordon Green, a studio guy being like, “Fuck it, I wanna go make a weird unique film without anybody holding me back.” We want to show films form the filmmakers that are still willing to go in this direction and the new generation that’s coming up and is committed to it still. I feel like it makes sense including a doc. I love “Finders Keepers,” it was one my favorite films at the festival and it’s just so unique. It’s such a unique watch for a documentary film. We want to champion the different approaches people are taking.
Aguilar: So you sit down with your team to figure out what films to play at Next Fest and go through every possible film from the Park City program?
Charlie Reff: One thing that’s actually interesting, is that first thing we think about is that any film released before the festival is automatically off the table. It was actually really unique this year distribution-wise because I think so many films rushed to release this year. I don’t know if you noticed that, but there were so many films coming out in the summer and the spring that were just acquired or coming out on VOD. That’s one thing that wipes away nearly half the slate. Beyond that, there are a lot of films that we want to play, but we need them all to have this unique Next quality that I talked about.
Aguilar: So you probably wouldn’t play a film like “Brooklyn,” which is very classical in terms of the filmmaking style and approach.
Charlie Reff: Exactly. I love the hell out of “Brooklyn,” but it’s so wonderfully classical that it would never play at Next Fest. The interesting thing that we always talk about when programming the Park City festival, and that it’s always a difficult thing for people to understand, is that every film that plays in the Next section could potentially play in our U.S. Dramatic Competition, but not every film in the U.S. Dramatic Competition could play in Next. They need to have that wild inventive quality to them, and that’s not to disrespect films that use classic storytelling, but that’s just how Next Fest is.
Aguilar: How do you decide what musical act goes well with a certain film? It seems like a complicated task and a leap of faith because it's difficult to know how an audience will react to a certain combination.
Charlie Reff: After going through it last year programming Next Fest and then programming last year’s and this year’s Park City festivals, as soon as I was watching a movie that I knew we were going to play and felt like a potentially cool Next Fest film, I was automatically already brainstorming ideas. It was like, “What would be an interesting crossover audience for this film? What musician has the right fan base that would love this film?” or vice versa, “The fan base for this film, what music do I think that they’ll be really into?“ I start thinking about the films and the music in my head and with my phone all the way back in November. We have the films to bring to people in, so I think about what music could be interesting and could make sort of a big statement.
With “Mistress America” I always wanted to pair it with Sky Ferreira. I’m a big fan of her. I know “Mistress America” has the Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig fan base. They pull that audience, so it’s about, “What can we do different? What audience could we bring to this film that would really get into it?” I started thinking about an ideal musician for the female, college-age, twenty-something, audience. “What artist can we bring in that would pull that kind of audience to ‘Mistress America’?" They maybe don’t know about the film yet, but they’ll fucking love it! That’s how the program for “Mistress America” came about.
“Entertainment” and Sharon Van Etten was a really hard one to pull together just because it’s such a singular and provocative film. I had conversations with Rick Alverson, the director of the film, about what kind of mood would be good for after the film. We were thinking of something really aggressive afterwards and Rick wasn’t really into that idea. He said, “Honestly, it’s quite a ride you are putting that audience through with the film and it probably wouldn’t be good to put even more in-your-face kind of intensity after.” We thought that the film was almost like a folk tale and that it has that wanderer feel to it, so I started thinking about folksy artists. Sharon Van Etten popped into my head because I love her and she is beyond talented. When I think of all the films that I’ve watched in the world and all the music that I’ve listened to, I realize that Rick Alverson is a filmmaker that throws me for a loop when I watch his films. As much as I think that I understand cinema, when I see his films they completely disorient me. That’s what’s special about him. Maybe this has happened to you with other filmmakers, but he blows my mind so much that I kind of almost stop breathing and I think, “What the fuck am I seeing? What is he putting us through? What is he exploring? “ At the same time Sharon Van Ette is so raw. She is such a beautiful performer. Once when I was watching her set I found myself really listening to what she was singing about and I was like, “Wow, this sis really, really personal.” This is how the selection happens. It’s not some specific formula.
Regarding “Turbo Kid,” it’s always been a dream to do something like this from the moment of pitching idea of Next Fest. I would always talk about, “Man, there are all these films coming out that are pulling from 80s aesthetics and there is a very similar strand of music.” It’s such a popular thing and I thought that’s something we would do one year. Then “Turbo Kid” came along and I was like, “Fuck Yeah!” This is the ultimate movie to do this with and celebrate the idea of this generations that’s influenced by the sounds and aesthetics of the 80s. Toro Y Moi are two of my favorite artists that really experiment with those sounds and push them forward. The greatest thing about them is that neither one of them do it ironically or mocking. There is sincerity in the love for the music they are creating and the music from the time period that has been so influential for them. That’s what “Turbo Kid“ is too. It’s not an ironic film, is a love letter and it’s shockingly sincere about its love of the 80s. That’s something I wanted to do. I didn’t want to make a joke of the 80s, I wanted people who love the 80s.
Aguilar: The other two films will have a special Q&A instead of a musical act. What can you tell me about the speakers that will accompany the films and filmmakers?
Charlie Reff: We always talk to the filmmakers and we ask for ideas from them. With “Cronies” by Michael Larnell, we will have a filmmaker that came before him and that was “the guy” who he felt understood what they were creating. The speaker will be Robert Townsend.
With "Finders Keepers" we wanted a really fun conversation and we chose someone who will ask the really fun and exciting questions out of all the questions that someone could ask the filmmaker. We will have Thomas Middletich to ask the strange questions about the reality of the story. We will also have John, the subject for the film there as well.
Aguilar: Next Fest is back at the Theater at Ace Hotel, which is a fantastic venue. It feels like the ideal place to show these films in L.A.
Charlie Reff: We love working with them. They have been incredibly supportive. They got it. Two years before the very first festival, when we it was called Next Weekend, we had already visited the Ace Hotel while it was still under construction. We were exploring this idea that maybe it’ll be fun to play new independent films in old movie palaces. I love the idea because I think these places are incredibly special. That was in the back of our heads and then when we heard about the Ace being done, we went to them and explain what we were trying to do and they were like, “Yeah, we are in.” We love being there.
Find out more about Sundance Next Fest 2015 and get tickets to the events Here...
- 8/5/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
“Reversal is just a really fucking cool movie,” Sundance programmer Charlie Reff says at first mention of the Park City at Midnight title. Its director, the Mexican-born José Manuel Cravioto, is decidedly more modest however. “With every film I make, I just want to entertain people,” says the filmmaker in anticipation of Reversal’s Sundance World…
The post Sundance 2015: Director J.M. Cravioto Previews Reversal appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
The post Sundance 2015: Director J.M. Cravioto Previews Reversal appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
- 1/22/2015
- by Samuel Zimmerman
- shocktillyoudrop.com
This is how the film begins, with a brick to the face. Sundance programmer Charlie Reff spoke to Shock and ran down the must-see horror films of the upcoming fest. Nestled nicely in there was J.M. Cravioto’s Reversal, a film which starts with a captive doling out comeuppance and according to Reff, “never really relents.”…
The post A Slamming Clip From Sundance Midnighter, Reversal appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
The post A Slamming Clip From Sundance Midnighter, Reversal appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
- 1/21/2015
- by Samuel Zimmerman
- shocktillyoudrop.com
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to get drunk and go to a midnight screening and have fun.” Sundance Programmer Charlie Reff is excited. Speaking to the Park City at Midnights of years past, he notes, “They’re really all over the place. I feel like Midnight is always such a grab bag. And that’s how we like…
The post Sundance 2015: Programmer Charlie Reff Previews the Horror appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
The post Sundance 2015: Programmer Charlie Reff Previews the Horror appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
- 1/21/2015
- by Samuel Zimmerman
- shocktillyoudrop.com
This past Wednesday, August 6th, saw the close of the 18th edition of Montreal's Fantasia Film Festival; and now that the dust has settled, we have the full list of this year's award winners plus the Fest's dates for 2015.
From the Press Release:
Returning to its home at Concordia University after the location’s massive 2013 renovations, the acclaimed Fantasia International Film Festival, North America’s longest-running genre film fest, benefited from having three theaters in which to screen its record 160+ films.
Among the numerous highlights that took place during the three-week festival were the crowd-pleasing, revelatory world premieres of Leo Gabriadze’s Cybernatural (review here), Sarah Adina Smith’s The Midnight Swim, and Bennett Jones’ I Am A Knife With Legs. Also of note were massively successful screenings of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, Lee Su-jin’s Han Gong-ju, Keishi Otomo’s Rurouni Kenshin – Kyoto Inferno,...
From the Press Release:
Returning to its home at Concordia University after the location’s massive 2013 renovations, the acclaimed Fantasia International Film Festival, North America’s longest-running genre film fest, benefited from having three theaters in which to screen its record 160+ films.
Among the numerous highlights that took place during the three-week festival were the crowd-pleasing, revelatory world premieres of Leo Gabriadze’s Cybernatural (review here), Sarah Adina Smith’s The Midnight Swim, and Bennett Jones’ I Am A Knife With Legs. Also of note were massively successful screenings of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, Lee Su-jin’s Han Gong-ju, Keishi Otomo’s Rurouni Kenshin – Kyoto Inferno,...
- 8/9/2014
- by Debi Moore
- DreadCentral.com
Over the span of five short years, John Cooper and Trevor Groth’s branded <=> section has not only become a destination for ”bold, distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling” in Park City, but in its inaugural year with a ten feature film line-up showcasing world premiere titles and a pair of films that were actually shown elsewhere (12 O’Clock Boys) it became a mainstay for the Angeleno crowds. Now, twelve months later, their lovely nudge to my kind of film has been slimed down by half a dozen titles making for a sophomore edition of Sundance Next Fest that has decidedly been retooled and refined. Converging at the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles for a three-day film love-in (preceded by today’s out-door 10th year anniversary showing of Jared Hess’ Napoleon Dynamite), on paper, this might already have become the sort of flagship event that nurtures the frenergy between artists is multiple disciplines,...
- 8/7/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Liv Mjönes, Ruth Vega Fernandez, With Every Heartbeat Breakthrough Selections Expecting: In Chile, a young girl and her boyfriend wait for a black-market drug to take effect in this tense and insightful examination of teen pregnancy. Dir/Scr Francisca Fuenzalida. Chile. U.S. Premiere. Light Of Mine: Rapidly going blind, photographer Owen and his wife Laura take a life-changing trip to Yellowstone National Park where they experience a beauty that rivals their tragedy. Dir Brett Eichenberger. Scr Jill Remensnyder. USA. Three And A Half: Three women risk everything and travel to the northwest Iranian border in hopes of escaping prison and reuniting with their comrades. Dir/Scr Naghi Nemati. Cast Samaneh Vafaiezadeh, Shooka Karimi, Negar Hassanzadeh, Mehdi Poormoosa. Iran. U.S. Premiere. With Every Heartbeat: In this Swedish romantic drama, uptight Mia attends her father’s engagement party and not only gains a stepmother, but also a new lover,...
- 10/23/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Organisers of the Tribeca Film Festival have announced this year's line-up of 60 short films, 22 of which are world premieres.
The international festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal and real-estate investor Craig Hatkoff to help revitalise Manhattan's Tribeca neighbourhood following the 9/11 terrorist attack.
The 2011 event - presented by founding sponsor American Express - will run from April 20 to May 1. The 60 shorts represent 21 countries, including the UK, and feature stars from around the globe.
In a new development this year, the recipient of the Tff Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Oscars without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with Academy rules.
The short film program, drawn from 2,862 submissions, will be presented in eight thematic programs, which are detailed below.
There is a broad spectrum of styles and storytelling, from zombies taking over Manhattan to the humanitarian effort in Haiti.
The international festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal and real-estate investor Craig Hatkoff to help revitalise Manhattan's Tribeca neighbourhood following the 9/11 terrorist attack.
The 2011 event - presented by founding sponsor American Express - will run from April 20 to May 1. The 60 shorts represent 21 countries, including the UK, and feature stars from around the globe.
In a new development this year, the recipient of the Tff Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Oscars without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with Academy rules.
The short film program, drawn from 2,862 submissions, will be presented in eight thematic programs, which are detailed below.
There is a broad spectrum of styles and storytelling, from zombies taking over Manhattan to the humanitarian effort in Haiti.
- 3/18/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday announced its lineup of 60 short films, 22 of which are world premieres.
A new wrinkle at this year’s festival is the recipient of the Tff Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Drawn from 2,862 submissions, the short-film program represents 21 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.
The following is a listing of the selected short films in the eight programs in which they will be presented, with descriptions provided by the festival.
2011 Tribeca Film Festival Short Film Program
Off the Grid (Documentary)
Sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll are a few of the topics explored in these thought-provoking short documentaries.
A new wrinkle at this year’s festival is the recipient of the Tff Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Drawn from 2,862 submissions, the short-film program represents 21 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.
The following is a listing of the selected short films in the eight programs in which they will be presented, with descriptions provided by the festival.
2011 Tribeca Film Festival Short Film Program
Off the Grid (Documentary)
Sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll are a few of the topics explored in these thought-provoking short documentaries.
- 3/16/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday announced its lineup of 60 short films, 22 of which are world premieres.
A new wrinkle at this year’s festival is the recipient of the Tff Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Drawn from 2,862 submissions, the short-film program represents 21 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.
The following is a listing of the selected short films in the eight programs in which they will be presented, with descriptions provided by the festival.
2011 Tribeca Film Festival Short Film Program
Off the Grid (Documentary)
Sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll are a few of the topics explored in these thought-provoking short documentaries.
A new wrinkle at this year’s festival is the recipient of the Tff Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Drawn from 2,862 submissions, the short-film program represents 21 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.
The following is a listing of the selected short films in the eight programs in which they will be presented, with descriptions provided by the festival.
2011 Tribeca Film Festival Short Film Program
Off the Grid (Documentary)
Sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll are a few of the topics explored in these thought-provoking short documentaries.
- 3/16/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
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