The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) unveiled its program for 2024, featuring a diverse selection of films and starting a new initiative to promote women in cinema. Running from October 28 to November 6, the festival continues to grow as a major event in Asian film.
A key part of this year’s festival is the Main Competition, with 15 films vying for top awards. World premieres in the competition include “Big World” from Chinese director Yang Lina, Philip Yung’s “Papa” out of Hong Kong, and “The Englishman’s Papers” by Portuguese filmmaker Sergio Graciano. A jury led by renowned Hong Kong actor Tony Leung will judge the films.
Another important element is the new Women’s Empowerment Section, created with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Programmer Andrijana Cvetkovikj curated nine movies that highlight female directors or stories. One selection is “My Favourite Cake” by banned Iranian directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who...
A key part of this year’s festival is the Main Competition, with 15 films vying for top awards. World premieres in the competition include “Big World” from Chinese director Yang Lina, Philip Yung’s “Papa” out of Hong Kong, and “The Englishman’s Papers” by Portuguese filmmaker Sergio Graciano. A jury led by renowned Hong Kong actor Tony Leung will judge the films.
Another important element is the new Women’s Empowerment Section, created with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Programmer Andrijana Cvetkovikj curated nine movies that highlight female directors or stories. One selection is “My Favourite Cake” by banned Iranian directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who...
- 9/25/2024
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
The Tokyo International Film Festival revealed its full 2024 lineup on Wednesday, including its main competition program and the Asian Future section for emerging regional filmmakers, as well as the all-new Women’s Empowerment section, which highlights nine films directed by women or involving female-focussed stories.
Tokyo’s 15-title main competition reveals a preference for securing world premieres over previously shown titles by established festival names. There are eight world premieres in the section — including Big World and My Friend An Delie by China’s Yang Lina and Dong Zijian, respectively; Papa from Hong Kong’s Philip Yung; The Englishman’s Papers from Portugal’s Sergio Graciano; and three Japanese features, among others (see full lineup below). Additional highlights include the international premiere of Midi Z’s The Unseen Sister and Huang Xi’s recent Toronto Film Festival entry Daughter’s Daughter, starring Sylvia Chang.
As previously announced, the competition titles will...
Tokyo’s 15-title main competition reveals a preference for securing world premieres over previously shown titles by established festival names. There are eight world premieres in the section — including Big World and My Friend An Delie by China’s Yang Lina and Dong Zijian, respectively; Papa from Hong Kong’s Philip Yung; The Englishman’s Papers from Portugal’s Sergio Graciano; and three Japanese features, among others (see full lineup below). Additional highlights include the international premiere of Midi Z’s The Unseen Sister and Huang Xi’s recent Toronto Film Festival entry Daughter’s Daughter, starring Sylvia Chang.
As previously announced, the competition titles will...
- 9/25/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tokyo International Film Festival has announced its full line-up including its main international and Asian Future competitions, as well as the nine films selected for its Women’s Empowerment Section.
The new female-focused section will screen Iranian drama My Favourite Cake, directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who are banned from travelling by the Iranian authorities and were unable to attend the film’s premiere in Berlin.
Other titles in the Women’s Empowerment Section include Turkish director Ceylan Ozgun Ozcelik’s In Ten Seconds; Hong Kong filmmaker Oliver Chan’s Montages Of A Motherhood; Memories Of A Burning Body, from Costa Rica’s Antonella Sudasassi Furniss; and the world premiere of Japanese director Naoki Tamura’s Doctor-x The Movie, among other titles.
Co-hosted with Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Women’s Empowerment Section is programmed by Andrijana Cvetkovikj and focuses on films directed by female filmmakers and/or with female-focused narratives.
The new female-focused section will screen Iranian drama My Favourite Cake, directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who are banned from travelling by the Iranian authorities and were unable to attend the film’s premiere in Berlin.
Other titles in the Women’s Empowerment Section include Turkish director Ceylan Ozgun Ozcelik’s In Ten Seconds; Hong Kong filmmaker Oliver Chan’s Montages Of A Motherhood; Memories Of A Burning Body, from Costa Rica’s Antonella Sudasassi Furniss; and the world premiere of Japanese director Naoki Tamura’s Doctor-x The Movie, among other titles.
Co-hosted with Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Women’s Empowerment Section is programmed by Andrijana Cvetkovikj and focuses on films directed by female filmmakers and/or with female-focused narratives.
- 9/25/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tokyo International Film Festival has unveiled a competition section with as many Chinese titles as Japanese for its 37th edition.
Announced on Wednesday the festival’s full lineup runs to a compact 110 films, culled from a huge 2,023 applications, and functions partly as discovery event, partly as a Japanese showcase and also as best-of the year international art house compendium.
The 15-title competition includes Midi Z’s “The Unseen Sister,” “Big World,” by Yang Lina and “My Friend An Delie,” by Dong Zijian from China. Adding rising star Hong Kong director Philip Yung’s “Papa” and Huang Xi’s Sylvia Chang-starring “Daughter’s Daughter,” fresh from Toronto, and the competition will resound to Chinese accents. From Japan comes “She taught Me Serendipity,” by Ohku Akiko, “Teki Cometh,” by Yoshida Daihachi and “Lust in the Rain,” which is a Japan-Taiwan coproduction directed by Katayama Shinzo.
Other competition selections include “The Englishman’s Papers,...
Announced on Wednesday the festival’s full lineup runs to a compact 110 films, culled from a huge 2,023 applications, and functions partly as discovery event, partly as a Japanese showcase and also as best-of the year international art house compendium.
The 15-title competition includes Midi Z’s “The Unseen Sister,” “Big World,” by Yang Lina and “My Friend An Delie,” by Dong Zijian from China. Adding rising star Hong Kong director Philip Yung’s “Papa” and Huang Xi’s Sylvia Chang-starring “Daughter’s Daughter,” fresh from Toronto, and the competition will resound to Chinese accents. From Japan comes “She taught Me Serendipity,” by Ohku Akiko, “Teki Cometh,” by Yoshida Daihachi and “Lust in the Rain,” which is a Japan-Taiwan coproduction directed by Katayama Shinzo.
Other competition selections include “The Englishman’s Papers,...
- 9/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Das Chicago International Film Festival feiert dieses Jahr 60. Jubiläum. In den Internationalen Wettbewerb wurden u.a. Pia Marais‘ „Transamazonia“ und Mohammad Rasoulofs „Die Saat des heiligen Feigenbaums“ eingeladen. „Der Spatz im Kamin“ von Ramon Zürcher feiert seine US-Premiere, The Match Factory hat gleich drei Koproduktionen dort. Aus Österreich sind „Pfau“ und „The Village Next to Paradise“ im Debüt-Wettbewerb vertreten.
„Der Spatz im Kamin” (Credit: Zürcher Film)
Sowohl „Transamazonia“ von Pia Marais (hier unsere Spot-Besprechung) als auch „Der Spatz im Kamin“ von Ramon Zürcher (hier unsere Spot-Besprechung) feierten ihre Weltpremiere im Wettbewerb von Locarno. Beide Filme laufen nun auch in Chicago, genauer gesagt im internationalen Wettbewerb des Chicago International Film Festival, das dieses Jahr 60. Jubiläum begeht. „Der Spatz im Kamin“ sogar als US-Premiere („Transamazonia“ tut dies Anfang Oktober beim New York Film Festival). Ebenfalls nach Chicago wurde Mohammad Rasoulofs vielgepriesener „Die Saat des heiligen Feigenbaums“ (hier unsere Spot-Besprechung) eingeladen, der von...
„Der Spatz im Kamin” (Credit: Zürcher Film)
Sowohl „Transamazonia“ von Pia Marais (hier unsere Spot-Besprechung) als auch „Der Spatz im Kamin“ von Ramon Zürcher (hier unsere Spot-Besprechung) feierten ihre Weltpremiere im Wettbewerb von Locarno. Beide Filme laufen nun auch in Chicago, genauer gesagt im internationalen Wettbewerb des Chicago International Film Festival, das dieses Jahr 60. Jubiläum begeht. „Der Spatz im Kamin“ sogar als US-Premiere („Transamazonia“ tut dies Anfang Oktober beim New York Film Festival). Ebenfalls nach Chicago wurde Mohammad Rasoulofs vielgepriesener „Die Saat des heiligen Feigenbaums“ (hier unsere Spot-Besprechung) eingeladen, der von...
- 9/22/2024
- by Barbara Schuster
- Spot - Media & Film
Payal Kapadia’s Cannes grand prix winner All We Imagine As Light and Mohammad Rasoulof’s special prize recipient The Seed Of The Sacred Fig, along with Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Venice selection Harvest are among the international competition selections at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival running October 16-27.
A packed line-up also brings Joshua Oppenheimer’s Telluride entry The End to the International Feature Competition, along with the North American premiere of The Quiet Son from Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin, which debuted on the Lido.
There are world premieres for Clarissa Campolina and Sérgio Borges’s Suçuarana...
A packed line-up also brings Joshua Oppenheimer’s Telluride entry The End to the International Feature Competition, along with the North American premiere of The Quiet Son from Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin, which debuted on the Lido.
There are world premieres for Clarissa Campolina and Sérgio Borges’s Suçuarana...
- 9/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
Payal Kapadia’s Cannes grand prix winner All We Imagine Is Light and Mohammad Rasoulof’s special prize recipient The Seed Of The Sacred Fig, along with Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Venice selection Harvest are among the international competition selections at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival running October 16-27.
A packed line-up also brings Joshua Oppenheimer’s Telluride entry The End to the International Feature Competition, along with the North American premiere of The Quiet Son from Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin, which debuted on the Lido.
There are world premieres for Clarissa Campolina and Sérgio Borges’s Suçuarana...
A packed line-up also brings Joshua Oppenheimer’s Telluride entry The End to the International Feature Competition, along with the North American premiere of The Quiet Son from Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin, which debuted on the Lido.
There are world premieres for Clarissa Campolina and Sérgio Borges’s Suçuarana...
- 9/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
Ein Ausreiseverbot aus ihrer Heimat Iran hatte verhindert, dass die Regisseure von „Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen“ an der Weltpremiere ihres Films im Februar auf der Berlinale teilnehmen konnten. Nachdem sie ihre Pässe kurzzeitig wieder bekommen hatten, wurden sie jetzt erneut mit einem Ausreiseverbot belegt.
Maryam Moghaddam und Behtash Sanaeeha haben, Regisseure von „Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen“ (hier ein Szenenbild) sind in ihrem Heimatland Iran erneut mit einem Ausreiseverbot belegt worden (Credit: Hamid Janipour / Alamode Film)
Die iranische Regierung hat das Ausreiseverbot gegen Maryam Moghaddam und Behtash Sanaeeha erneuert. Bereits im Februar waren die beiden daran gehindert worden, zur Weltpremiere ihres Films „Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen“ auf der Berlinale zu kommen. Kurzzeitig hatten sie Medienberichten zufolge ihre Pässe zurückbekommen.
Wie Moghaddam jetzt via Instagram mitteilte, hätten sie die iranischen Behörden nun daran gehindert, zur Premiere des Films nach Schweden, wohin sie als 16-Jährige gekommen war und eine Schauspielausbildung abschloss,...
Maryam Moghaddam und Behtash Sanaeeha haben, Regisseure von „Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen“ (hier ein Szenenbild) sind in ihrem Heimatland Iran erneut mit einem Ausreiseverbot belegt worden (Credit: Hamid Janipour / Alamode Film)
Die iranische Regierung hat das Ausreiseverbot gegen Maryam Moghaddam und Behtash Sanaeeha erneuert. Bereits im Februar waren die beiden daran gehindert worden, zur Weltpremiere ihres Films „Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen“ auf der Berlinale zu kommen. Kurzzeitig hatten sie Medienberichten zufolge ihre Pässe zurückbekommen.
Wie Moghaddam jetzt via Instagram mitteilte, hätten sie die iranischen Behörden nun daran gehindert, zur Premiere des Films nach Schweden, wohin sie als 16-Jährige gekommen war und eine Schauspielausbildung abschloss,...
- 9/18/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
Iranian directorial duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who in February were banned by Iranian authorities from traveling to the Berlin Film Festival to launch their film “My Favourite Cake,” have now been subjected to repeated travel bans after their passports were returned.
Last week, Moghaddam — who is Swedish-Iranian — was ready to fly to Sweden to visit her family and attend the Swedish premiere of “My Favourite Cake” when she was stopped.
Moghaddam said in an Instagram post that her “passport was confiscated at Tehran’s airport and I was informed that we (me and Behtash Sanaeeha) are barred from leaving the country again.”
Moghaddam added that this took place “only a week ago after our passports were given back to us,” and “only after I had got tickets, paid the exit fees and a lot of more expenses which had obviously gone in vain.”
In the post, Moghaddam pointed...
Last week, Moghaddam — who is Swedish-Iranian — was ready to fly to Sweden to visit her family and attend the Swedish premiere of “My Favourite Cake” when she was stopped.
Moghaddam said in an Instagram post that her “passport was confiscated at Tehran’s airport and I was informed that we (me and Behtash Sanaeeha) are barred from leaving the country again.”
Moghaddam added that this took place “only a week ago after our passports were given back to us,” and “only after I had got tickets, paid the exit fees and a lot of more expenses which had obviously gone in vain.”
In the post, Moghaddam pointed...
- 9/18/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, whose My Favourite Cake premiered in Competition in Berlin, say they have been placed under a new travel ban by Iranian authorities, preventing Moghaddam from attending the film’s premiere in Sweden.
The Iranian government had previously banned the co-directors from attending the world premiere in Germany in February. The government recently returned their passports, however Moghaddam posted on Instagram that she was stopped by authorities at Tehran’s airport on the way to Sweden and informed that both filmmmakers were prohibited from leaving the country.
Sanaeeha told Screen that he was not traveling,...
The Iranian government had previously banned the co-directors from attending the world premiere in Germany in February. The government recently returned their passports, however Moghaddam posted on Instagram that she was stopped by authorities at Tehran’s airport on the way to Sweden and informed that both filmmmakers were prohibited from leaving the country.
Sanaeeha told Screen that he was not traveling,...
- 9/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, whose My Favourite Cake premiered in Competition in Berlin, say they have been placed under a new travel ban by Iranian authorities, preventing Moghaddam from attending the film’s premiere in Sweden.
The Iranian government had previously banned the co-directors from attending the world premiere in Germany in February. The government recently returned their passports, however Moghaddam posted on Instagram that she was stopped by authorities at Tehran’s airport on the way to Sweden and informed that both filmmmakers were prohibited from leaving the country.
Sanaeeha told Screen that he was not traveling,...
The Iranian government had previously banned the co-directors from attending the world premiere in Germany in February. The government recently returned their passports, however Moghaddam posted on Instagram that she was stopped by authorities at Tehran’s airport on the way to Sweden and informed that both filmmmakers were prohibited from leaving the country.
Sanaeeha told Screen that he was not traveling,...
- 9/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
A busy weekend at the UK and Ireland box office this weekend as Prima Facie, Lee, Speak No Evil and The Critic all launch in 550+ cinemas.
National Theatre Live’s re-release of Prima Facie is in 679 locations. The theatre production starring Jodie Comer first played in cinemas in July 2022 in 662 venues, making £1.5m in a single day.
It became the highest-grossing event cinema release at the time, ending just shy of £5m and overtaken only by Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour which made £12m on its run.
Prima Facie opened in cinemas Thursday (September 12). The one-woman play surrounds a female...
National Theatre Live’s re-release of Prima Facie is in 679 locations. The theatre production starring Jodie Comer first played in cinemas in July 2022 in 662 venues, making £1.5m in a single day.
It became the highest-grossing event cinema release at the time, ending just shy of £5m and overtaken only by Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour which made £12m on its run.
Prima Facie opened in cinemas Thursday (September 12). The one-woman play surrounds a female...
- 9/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, makers of My Favourite Cake, received an ovation at the Berlin film festival while under house arrest in Tehran. They speak about the struggle of creating art under a dictatorship
Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha wave from their Tehran living room: prisoners on a two-seater sofa. Outside Iran, the couple are film-makers with a growing reputation. Their new work as co-directors, My Favourite Cake, screened to high praise at this year’s Berlin film festival. Then came a successful German release. Now, the movie is coming out in the UK.
But the couple have experienced it all from this apartment, amid their bookshelves, kitchen and bathroom. We speak over Zoom, because we have to. Facing criminal charges related to the film, they are banned from leaving the country.
Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha wave from their Tehran living room: prisoners on a two-seater sofa. Outside Iran, the couple are film-makers with a growing reputation. Their new work as co-directors, My Favourite Cake, screened to high praise at this year’s Berlin film festival. Then came a successful German release. Now, the movie is coming out in the UK.
But the couple have experienced it all from this apartment, amid their bookshelves, kitchen and bathroom. We speak over Zoom, because we have to. Facing criminal charges related to the film, they are banned from leaving the country.
- 9/13/2024
- by Danny Leigh
- The Guardian - Film News
Warner Bros.’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” conjured a dominating £7.3 million ($9.6 million) opening weekend in the U.K. and Ireland, easily claiming the top spot at the box office, according to numbers from Comscore.
Ahimsa Entertainment’s Tamil-language film “The Greatest Of All Time” (“Goat”), starring Vijay, debuted in second place with £768,842.
Sony’s “It Ends With Us” held strong in its fifth week, landing at number three with £668,902, pushing its total to £20.1 million. Disney’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” continued to perform well in its seventh frame, adding £661,592 for a £55.9 million cume.
Rounding out the top five, Disney’s “Alien: Romulus” scared up another £570,708 in its fourth weekend, bringing its total to £12.1 million.
Universal’s “Despicable Me 4” showed staying power in sixth place, collecting £543,555 in its ninth week for a £45.7 million total. Warner Bros.’ “Blink Twice” landed in seventh with £331,425 in its third weekend, accumulating £2.62 million overall.
Disney’s “Inside Out 2” took the eighth spot,...
Ahimsa Entertainment’s Tamil-language film “The Greatest Of All Time” (“Goat”), starring Vijay, debuted in second place with £768,842.
Sony’s “It Ends With Us” held strong in its fifth week, landing at number three with £668,902, pushing its total to £20.1 million. Disney’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” continued to perform well in its seventh frame, adding £661,592 for a £55.9 million cume.
Rounding out the top five, Disney’s “Alien: Romulus” scared up another £570,708 in its fourth weekend, bringing its total to £12.1 million.
Universal’s “Despicable Me 4” showed staying power in sixth place, collecting £543,555 in its ninth week for a £45.7 million total. Warner Bros.’ “Blink Twice” landed in seventh with £331,425 in its third weekend, accumulating £2.62 million overall.
Disney’s “Inside Out 2” took the eighth spot,...
- 9/10/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Paris-based Totem Films has acquired world sales rights, excluding Canada, to Canadian filmmaker Sofia Bohdanowicz’s “Measures for a Funeral” in advance of the film’s world premiere in the Toronto Film Festival’s Centrepiece program.
Margot Hervée, Totem’s head of sales and acquisitions, first encountered Bohdanowicz’s work a few years ago. “It immediately resonated with me,” she told Variety. “We’re thrilled to now have her as part of the Totem family and to represent her latest film.”
Vortex Media is the film’s Canadian distributor.
As part of today’s announcement, Totem has shared with Variety a first teaser for “Measures,” which stars Deragh Campbell as Audrey Benac — a “family detective” character she has played in previous Bohdanowicz films, including the feature “Ms Slavic 7,” which premiered in Berlin in 2019 and also screened in Toronto.
Filmed in Canada, the U.K. and Norway, “Measures”— which won the...
Margot Hervée, Totem’s head of sales and acquisitions, first encountered Bohdanowicz’s work a few years ago. “It immediately resonated with me,” she told Variety. “We’re thrilled to now have her as part of the Totem family and to represent her latest film.”
Vortex Media is the film’s Canadian distributor.
As part of today’s announcement, Totem has shared with Variety a first teaser for “Measures,” which stars Deragh Campbell as Audrey Benac — a “family detective” character she has played in previous Bohdanowicz films, including the feature “Ms Slavic 7,” which premiered in Berlin in 2019 and also screened in Toronto.
Filmed in Canada, the U.K. and Norway, “Measures”— which won the...
- 8/27/2024
- by Jennie Punter
- Variety Film + TV
Austria has selected Berlinale award-winner The Devil’s Bath as its entry for international feature at the Oscars 2025.
The historical thriller is directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala and won the Silver Bear in cinematography at Berlinale earlier this year.
Set in Austria in 1750, the film stars Anja Plaschg as an oppressed, newly married woman who commits a shocking act of violence. The film topped Screen’s Berlin jury grid along with My Favourite Cake, with both films scoring 3.1.
It is produced by Ulrich Seidl Filmproduktion, co-founded by Ulrich Seidl and Franz, in co-production with Heimatfilm Cologne & Coop99. France’s Playtime handles international sales.
The historical thriller is directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala and won the Silver Bear in cinematography at Berlinale earlier this year.
Set in Austria in 1750, the film stars Anja Plaschg as an oppressed, newly married woman who commits a shocking act of violence. The film topped Screen’s Berlin jury grid along with My Favourite Cake, with both films scoring 3.1.
It is produced by Ulrich Seidl Filmproduktion, co-founded by Ulrich Seidl and Franz, in co-production with Heimatfilm Cologne & Coop99. France’s Playtime handles international sales.
- 8/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
The 77th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has launched its entire program for the Aug. 15-21 event, where it will screen 37 new feature films and 18 world premieres.
Ten world premieres will compete for the new Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence as the fest showcases talent from filmmakers in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Mexico, Norway, China, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Iran and beyond. Screenings will take place in the heart of Scotland’s picturesque capital at some of the city’s most iconic venues including Cameo Cinema, Summerhall, and 50 George Square.
Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan, was previously confirmed as the Fest’s opening night film, with the world premiere of Carla J. Easton and Blair Young’s documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands set to close. Its Midnight Madness strand will close with the body horror The Substance, starring Demi Moore.
Ten world premieres will compete for the new Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence as the fest showcases talent from filmmakers in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Mexico, Norway, China, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Iran and beyond. Screenings will take place in the heart of Scotland’s picturesque capital at some of the city’s most iconic venues including Cameo Cinema, Summerhall, and 50 George Square.
Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan, was previously confirmed as the Fest’s opening night film, with the world premiere of Carla J. Easton and Blair Young’s documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands set to close. Its Midnight Madness strand will close with the body horror The Substance, starring Demi Moore.
- 7/10/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Daisy-May Hudson’s fiction debut Lollipop, a documentary about a man’s relationship with a life-sized AI-animated doll and Nina Conti’s Cannes Great 8 title Sunlight are among 18 world premieres at the new-look Edinburgh International Film Festival.
A total of 37 feature films form the line-up of Eiff’s 77th edition, which is the first under the leadership of Paul Ridd as festival director and Andrew Macdonald as chair. The line-up includes 10 world premieres in the running for the £50,000 Sean Connery prize for feature filmmaking excellence, plus four retrospective screenings, a Midnight Madness strand and five short film programmes.
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A total of 37 feature films form the line-up of Eiff’s 77th edition, which is the first under the leadership of Paul Ridd as festival director and Andrew Macdonald as chair. The line-up includes 10 world premieres in the running for the £50,000 Sean Connery prize for feature filmmaking excellence, plus four retrospective screenings, a Midnight Madness strand and five short film programmes.
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- 7/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Als eine von 21 deutschen (Ko-)Produktionen, die von 28. Juni bis 6. Juli beim 58. Internationalen Filmfestival von Karlovy Vary zu sehen sein werden, läuft Noaz Deshes „Xoftex“ im Hauptwettbewerb um den Kristallglobus.
Noaz Deshes französisch-deutsche Koproduktion „Xoftex“ geht in Karlovy Vary ins Rennen um den Kristallglobus (Credit: Arden Film)
Als einer von zwölf Filmen kann sich Noaz Deshes französisch-deutsche Koproduktion „Xoftex“ Hoffnungen machen, im Hauptwettbewerb des 58. Internationalen Filmfestivals von Karlovy Vary (28. Juni bis 6. Juli) mit dem Kristallglobus ausgezeichnet zu werden.
„Die offizielle Auswahl des 58. Kviff bietet ein einzigartiges Epizentrum von Genres und Themen, die das zeitgenössische Kino bewegen“, sagt der Künstlerische Direktor des Festivals, Karel Och, über das diesjährige Programm.
Insgesamt sind 21 deutsche (Ko-)Produktionen nach Karlovy Vary eingeladen worden:
Wettbewerb um den Kristallglobus
• „Xoftex“, Regie: Noaz Deshe
Wettbewerb Proxima
• „The Alienated“ („Vertriebene“), Regie: Anja Kreis
• „Hicbir Sey Yerinde Degil“ („Nothing in its Place“), Regie: Burak Çevik
• „Lapilli“, Regie: Paula Ďurinová
Horizons...
Noaz Deshes französisch-deutsche Koproduktion „Xoftex“ geht in Karlovy Vary ins Rennen um den Kristallglobus (Credit: Arden Film)
Als einer von zwölf Filmen kann sich Noaz Deshes französisch-deutsche Koproduktion „Xoftex“ Hoffnungen machen, im Hauptwettbewerb des 58. Internationalen Filmfestivals von Karlovy Vary (28. Juni bis 6. Juli) mit dem Kristallglobus ausgezeichnet zu werden.
„Die offizielle Auswahl des 58. Kviff bietet ein einzigartiges Epizentrum von Genres und Themen, die das zeitgenössische Kino bewegen“, sagt der Künstlerische Direktor des Festivals, Karel Och, über das diesjährige Programm.
Insgesamt sind 21 deutsche (Ko-)Produktionen nach Karlovy Vary eingeladen worden:
Wettbewerb um den Kristallglobus
• „Xoftex“, Regie: Noaz Deshe
Wettbewerb Proxima
• „The Alienated“ („Vertriebene“), Regie: Anja Kreis
• „Hicbir Sey Yerinde Degil“ („Nothing in its Place“), Regie: Burak Çevik
• „Lapilli“, Regie: Paula Ďurinová
Horizons...
- 6/18/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
“Memoir of a Snail,” directed by locally-born, Oscar-winning director Adam Elliot, has been set as the opening title of the Melbourne International Film Festival.
The festival runs Aug. 8-25 and is expected to comprise more than 250 titles. An early sneak peek, revealed Thursday, confirmed a high quality international and local selection.
These include Cannes Critics’ Week award winner “Blue Sun Palace”; double Sundance-winning semi biographical directorial debut “Didi,” by Sean Wang; Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man,” which earned Sebastian Stan the acting prize in Berlin; Australian-produced Imax presentation “Fungi: Web of Life”; Rooney Mara-starring “La Cocina”; Frederick Wiseman’s restaurant documentary “Menus Plaisirs – Les Troisgros”; Berlin prize-winner “My Favourite Cake”; Steve McQueen’s “Occupied City”; and Jodi Wille’s “Welcome Space Brothers.”
The lineup also includes “We Were Dangerous,” a feminist and comic directorial debut from Maori filmmaker Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, that is executive produced by Taika Waititi.
The festival runs Aug. 8-25 and is expected to comprise more than 250 titles. An early sneak peek, revealed Thursday, confirmed a high quality international and local selection.
These include Cannes Critics’ Week award winner “Blue Sun Palace”; double Sundance-winning semi biographical directorial debut “Didi,” by Sean Wang; Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man,” which earned Sebastian Stan the acting prize in Berlin; Australian-produced Imax presentation “Fungi: Web of Life”; Rooney Mara-starring “La Cocina”; Frederick Wiseman’s restaurant documentary “Menus Plaisirs – Les Troisgros”; Berlin prize-winner “My Favourite Cake”; Steve McQueen’s “Occupied City”; and Jodi Wille’s “Welcome Space Brothers.”
The lineup also includes “We Were Dangerous,” a feminist and comic directorial debut from Maori filmmaker Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, that is executive produced by Taika Waititi.
- 6/6/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Die dritte Zusammenarbeit des iranischen Regieduos Maryam Moghaddam und Behtash Sanaeeha feierte ihre Weltpremiere in diesem Jahr im Berlinale-Wettbewerb und wird von Alamode Film am 11. Juli in die deutschen Kinos gebracht. Jetzt wurde der Trailer veröffentlicht.
In ihrer dritten gemeinsamen Arbeit „Ein Stück vom Kuchen“ erzählen die iranischen Regisseure Maryam Moghaddam und Behtash Sanaeeha die Geschichte der 70-jährigen Mahin (Lily Farhadpour), die seit dem Tod ihres Mannes und der Ausreise ihrer Tochter nach Europa allein in Teheran lebt. Nach einem Nachmittag mit ihren Freundinnen beschließt sie, der Einsamkeit und Monotonie ihres Alltags zu entfliehen und ihr Liebesleben wieder zu aktivieren. Zufällig trifft sie den gleichaltrigen Taxifahrer Faramarz (Esmail Mehrabi). Was mit einer zufälligen Begegnung begann, endet in einer überraschenden und unvergesslichen Nacht.
Alamode Film startet „Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen“ am 11. Juli in den deutschen Kinos.
In ihrer dritten gemeinsamen Arbeit „Ein Stück vom Kuchen“ erzählen die iranischen Regisseure Maryam Moghaddam und Behtash Sanaeeha die Geschichte der 70-jährigen Mahin (Lily Farhadpour), die seit dem Tod ihres Mannes und der Ausreise ihrer Tochter nach Europa allein in Teheran lebt. Nach einem Nachmittag mit ihren Freundinnen beschließt sie, der Einsamkeit und Monotonie ihres Alltags zu entfliehen und ihr Liebesleben wieder zu aktivieren. Zufällig trifft sie den gleichaltrigen Taxifahrer Faramarz (Esmail Mehrabi). Was mit einer zufälligen Begegnung begann, endet in einer überraschenden und unvergesslichen Nacht.
Alamode Film startet „Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen“ am 11. Juli in den deutschen Kinos.
- 5/29/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
Cannes Critics’ Week title Julie Keeps Quiet, directed by Belgium’s Leonardo Van Dijl, is to be released in the UK and Ireland through Curzon’s Artificial Eye distribution label.
It unfurls as an elite tennis academy star’s coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended. All of the club’s players are encouraged to speak up, but Julie decides to keep quiet.
The feature is produced by Gilles De Schryver, Gilles Coulier, Wouter Sap and Roxanne Sarkozi for De Wereldvrede (Belgium), and co-produced by Delphine Tomson, Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne for Les Films du Fleuve (Belgium), Nima Yousefi...
It unfurls as an elite tennis academy star’s coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended. All of the club’s players are encouraged to speak up, but Julie decides to keep quiet.
The feature is produced by Gilles De Schryver, Gilles Coulier, Wouter Sap and Roxanne Sarkozi for De Wereldvrede (Belgium), and co-produced by Delphine Tomson, Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne for Les Films du Fleuve (Belgium), Nima Yousefi...
- 5/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
Ed Fletcher has been at the helm of UK distributor and exhibitor Curzon for six months as CEO, following the departure of Philip Knatchbull from the Cohen Media Group-owned company in November 2023.
Fletcher brings with him experience spent managing cinemas in London and Cambridge, and working in theatrical distribution at first Ica Projects and then distributor Soda Pictures, the company he co-founded with Eve Gabareau in 2002 that became Thunderbird Releasing in 2014. He also runs a production label called Beef with Emma Biggins as a sideline to his day job.
Just before Cannes, Curzon revealed the revival of the Artificial...
Fletcher brings with him experience spent managing cinemas in London and Cambridge, and working in theatrical distribution at first Ica Projects and then distributor Soda Pictures, the company he co-founded with Eve Gabareau in 2002 that became Thunderbird Releasing in 2014. He also runs a production label called Beef with Emma Biggins as a sideline to his day job.
Just before Cannes, Curzon revealed the revival of the Artificial...
- 5/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
New U.A.E.-based distribution and production studio The Plot Pictures is headed for the Cannes Marche du Film after snapping up Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (Menat) rights to a slew of indie titles across different genres.
They include “Locust,” a first feature film from Taiwanese American multidisciplinary artist Keff that is playing in Critics Week, and Nick Hamm’s epic “William Tell.”
The Plot Pictures CEO Pratixa Shah and head of sales Ozge Conduroglu – who was previously with Starz Play Arabia – are assembling a slate spanning “different genres, regions, and languages,” as Shah put it in statement. “We are agnostic to language and country of origin,” she said, noting that “the hyper local is often what global audiences are looking for, even if it is not local to them.”
The studio, which officially launched in Dubai in March, are co-producers on “Locust.” The film is set in Taiwan where,...
They include “Locust,” a first feature film from Taiwanese American multidisciplinary artist Keff that is playing in Critics Week, and Nick Hamm’s epic “William Tell.”
The Plot Pictures CEO Pratixa Shah and head of sales Ozge Conduroglu – who was previously with Starz Play Arabia – are assembling a slate spanning “different genres, regions, and languages,” as Shah put it in statement. “We are agnostic to language and country of origin,” she said, noting that “the hyper local is often what global audiences are looking for, even if it is not local to them.”
The studio, which officially launched in Dubai in March, are co-producers on “Locust.” The film is set in Taiwan where,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Artificial Eye, the arthouse distribution company established in 1976 by Curzon Cinemas, is set for a re-launch as a theatrical and home entertainment label.
Founded by Andi and Pam Engel, the label gained recognition for releasing independent, arthouse, and foreign language films, promoting films from directors such as Béla Tarr, the Dardenne Brothers, and Trần Anh Hùng.
Artificial Eye went on hiatus in 2014, after being part of the Curzon group since 2006. In 2019, we told you Curzon Group and its subsidiaries, including Artificial Eye, had been acquired by U.S. indie distributor and exhibitor Cohen Media Group. Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure was one of the last films released under the previous version of the label.
Curzon has continued to release critically acclaimed films under the Curzon Film label led by Managing Director Louisa Dent. One of their successes has been Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever at the UK box office.
Founded by Andi and Pam Engel, the label gained recognition for releasing independent, arthouse, and foreign language films, promoting films from directors such as Béla Tarr, the Dardenne Brothers, and Trần Anh Hùng.
Artificial Eye went on hiatus in 2014, after being part of the Curzon group since 2006. In 2019, we told you Curzon Group and its subsidiaries, including Artificial Eye, had been acquired by U.S. indie distributor and exhibitor Cohen Media Group. Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure was one of the last films released under the previous version of the label.
Curzon has continued to release critically acclaimed films under the Curzon Film label led by Managing Director Louisa Dent. One of their successes has been Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever at the UK box office.
- 5/1/2024
- by Hannah Abraham
- Deadline Film + TV
Goodfellas has come on board to handle international sales on Francis Ford Coppola’s Cannes Competition selection Megalopolis, Screen can reveal.
It is further understood the epic drama has sold to Le Pacte for France, which satisfies Cannes’ rule stating that films invited to play in Competition must be released theatrically in France prior to debuting on a platform.
Adam Driver stars in Megalopolis as an ambitious architect who harbours grand plans to rebuild New York and falls for the daughter of his rival, the mayor, who wants to perpetuate greed and support special interest groups. The first-look image from...
It is further understood the epic drama has sold to Le Pacte for France, which satisfies Cannes’ rule stating that films invited to play in Competition must be released theatrically in France prior to debuting on a platform.
Adam Driver stars in Megalopolis as an ambitious architect who harbours grand plans to rebuild New York and falls for the daughter of his rival, the mayor, who wants to perpetuate greed and support special interest groups. The first-look image from...
- 4/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
U.K. outfit Curzon — part of the Cohen Media Group — is set to relaunch Artificial Eye, the arthouse distribution label that was established in 1976 and has been on hiatus for the last decade.
The label, first founded by film enthusiasts Andi and Pam Engel and part of the Curzon group since 2006, became renowned for releasing independent, foreign-language and arthouse title to U.K. audiences, including those by Béla Tarr, the Dardenne Brothers and Trần Anh Hùng. Its library boasts over 400 critically acclaimed films from directors including Wim Wenders, Michael Haneke and Claire Denis. Ruben Östlund’s “Force Majeure” was one of the last films released under the previous incarnation.
Led by managing director Louisa Dent, who has been with the company since 2008, Curzon has continued to release critically acclaimed films under the Curzon Film label — including Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever at the U.K.
The label, first founded by film enthusiasts Andi and Pam Engel and part of the Curzon group since 2006, became renowned for releasing independent, foreign-language and arthouse title to U.K. audiences, including those by Béla Tarr, the Dardenne Brothers and Trần Anh Hùng. Its library boasts over 400 critically acclaimed films from directors including Wim Wenders, Michael Haneke and Claire Denis. Ruben Östlund’s “Force Majeure” was one of the last films released under the previous incarnation.
Led by managing director Louisa Dent, who has been with the company since 2008, Curzon has continued to release critically acclaimed films under the Curzon Film label — including Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever at the U.K.
- 4/30/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
The UK’s Curzon is to relaunch its specialist UK/Ireland distribution label Artificial Eye, as a theatrical and home entertainment brand.
The first release under the banner will be Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Berlinale Competition title My Favourite Cake.
Led by Curzon managing director Louisa Dent, the acquisitions team will curate additions to the Artificial Eye catalogue, focusing on director-led world cinema and discoveries from emerging filmmakers.
Artificial Eye was founded in 1976 by Andi Engel and Pam Engel. The label released leading independent, foreign-language and arthouse titles, including films by Bela Tarr, the Dardenne brothers and Tran Anh Hung.
The first release under the banner will be Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Berlinale Competition title My Favourite Cake.
Led by Curzon managing director Louisa Dent, the acquisitions team will curate additions to the Artificial Eye catalogue, focusing on director-led world cinema and discoveries from emerging filmmakers.
Artificial Eye was founded in 1976 by Andi Engel and Pam Engel. The label released leading independent, foreign-language and arthouse titles, including films by Bela Tarr, the Dardenne brothers and Tran Anh Hung.
- 4/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
Mahin decides to break her loneliness by searching for a partner in Maryam Moghadam & Behtash Sanaeeha's warm-hearted drama “My Favourite Cake”. The third directorial collaboration between two filmmakers had its world premiere in the official competition of Berlinale earlier this year, screened in absence of the helmers who were not allowed to leave the country. The movie shows women without mandatory hijabs, it lets them speak about their flirts, dreams and longing, and it even involves alcohol drinking and a burgeoning love affair between two people who were not destined to live that dream to the fullest, as well as an open rebellion against the morality police. Iranian authorities made a clumsy attempt at stopping the film of reaching the international audience, which luckily proved futile.”My Favourite Cake” was shot secretly amidst the wide-spread anti Government protests sparked by the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a young Iranian...
- 4/30/2024
- by Marina D. Richter
- AsianMoviePulse
The Berlin-based German Federal Film Board (Ffa) is following the lead of other European countries and launching its dedicated minority co-production fund with an annual budget of €1m.
Producers based in Germany can apply to this fund if their financial participation is at least 10% and less than that of the foreign delegate producer.
The fund is open to feature-length fiction, animation and documentary films that have a high degree of festival potential, or could be commercially successful in Germany and abroad.
The projects applying for support must show that they have a German financing share of at least €350,000.
The minimum...
Producers based in Germany can apply to this fund if their financial participation is at least 10% and less than that of the foreign delegate producer.
The fund is open to feature-length fiction, animation and documentary films that have a high degree of festival potential, or could be commercially successful in Germany and abroad.
The projects applying for support must show that they have a German financing share of at least €350,000.
The minimum...
- 4/11/2024
- ScreenDaily
Before we put our focus on the upcoming edition of the Cannes Film Festival, we look back at our coverage of the Berlinale – a competition that many would agree was subpar and sidebar selections that did indeed offer some gems. Mati Diop’s Dahomey (read review) claimed the top prize and Behtash Saneeha & Maryam Moghaddam’s My Favourite Cake (read our ★★★★review) was the overall critical darling among critics. This year Our Nicholas Bell was also part of filmneweurope.com’s Fipresci grid (worth noting that they have a grading system that is less precise and incompatible with our grading system) and we’ve also added Screen Daily’s chart for further comparison – see after the jump below.…...
- 3/13/2024
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
UK production, sales and distribution outfit Signature Entertainment has acquired Latin American production and distribution company Particular Crowd.
Particular Crowd’s slate includes Martino Zaidelis’s Argentinian thriller La Extorsión and Argentinian-Uruguayan comedy Casi Muerta.
Both titles secured strong box office runs locally, ahead of streaming on Max, as part of Particular Crowd’s first-look and production deal with Max owner Warner Bros Discovery. The deal with Warner Bros Discovery will continue following the Signature acquisition.
Upcoming projects include Brazil’s Evidências Do Amor, which will be released theatrically this month by Warner Bros and Aztec Batman: Clash Of Empires,...
Particular Crowd’s slate includes Martino Zaidelis’s Argentinian thriller La Extorsión and Argentinian-Uruguayan comedy Casi Muerta.
Both titles secured strong box office runs locally, ahead of streaming on Max, as part of Particular Crowd’s first-look and production deal with Max owner Warner Bros Discovery. The deal with Warner Bros Discovery will continue following the Signature acquisition.
Upcoming projects include Brazil’s Evidências Do Amor, which will be released theatrically this month by Warner Bros and Aztec Batman: Clash Of Empires,...
- 3/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
Canneseries has lined up world premieres of international titles including Apple TV+’s Franklin, Disney+’s Becoming Karl Lagerfeld and Netflix’s French comedy Fiasco for its seventh edition which runs in Cannes from April 5-10 in parallel with MipTV.
Franklin, produced by ITV Studios America with Apple Studios, stars Michael Douglas as the titular US founding father in a story about his time on a mission to France in 1776. Douglas, also an executive producer on the eight-episode limited series, is expected to attend the event.
“We can’t do a premiere in Cannes of Franklin without Franklin himself aka Michael Douglas,...
Franklin, produced by ITV Studios America with Apple Studios, stars Michael Douglas as the titular US founding father in a story about his time on a mission to France in 1776. Douglas, also an executive producer on the eight-episode limited series, is expected to attend the event.
“We can’t do a premiere in Cannes of Franklin without Franklin himself aka Michael Douglas,...
- 3/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
Iranian tragicomedy My Favourite Cake continues to sell strongly for Totem Films following its premiere in Berlinale competition last month.
The French sales agent has inked new deals for Australia and New Zealand (Vendetta), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), Indonesia (Falcon), Portugal (Alambique), Brazil (Imovision), Finland (Cinema Mondo), Bulgaria (Betafilm), Greece (Weird Wave), the Baltics (Kino Pavasaris) and former Yugoslavia (Demiurg).
Directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, the film sold to a slew of territories ahead of its Berlin premiere and during EFM including UK and Ireland (Curzon), Spain (A Contracorriente), Italy (Academy Two), Germany and Austria (Alamode), Norway (Arthaus), France...
The French sales agent has inked new deals for Australia and New Zealand (Vendetta), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), Indonesia (Falcon), Portugal (Alambique), Brazil (Imovision), Finland (Cinema Mondo), Bulgaria (Betafilm), Greece (Weird Wave), the Baltics (Kino Pavasaris) and former Yugoslavia (Demiurg).
Directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, the film sold to a slew of territories ahead of its Berlin premiere and during EFM including UK and Ireland (Curzon), Spain (A Contracorriente), Italy (Academy Two), Germany and Austria (Alamode), Norway (Arthaus), France...
- 3/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
Lucasfilm’s upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu directed by Jon Favreau will bring the largest total qualified expenditures in the history of the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program, the California Film Commission said on Monday.
The film commences production later this year and marks the first feature from the Star Wars universe since 2019 as Disney CEO Bob Iger attempts to mine the core IP and revive a pipeline rocked by several relative misfires at the box office in 2023.
The Mandalorian & Grogu will shoot entirely in California and is set to inject an estimated $166m into the state...
The film commences production later this year and marks the first feature from the Star Wars universe since 2019 as Disney CEO Bob Iger attempts to mine the core IP and revive a pipeline rocked by several relative misfires at the box office in 2023.
The Mandalorian & Grogu will shoot entirely in California and is set to inject an estimated $166m into the state...
- 2/27/2024
- ScreenDaily
Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s The Devil’s Bath and Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s My Favourite Cake have jointly topped Screen’s 2024 Berlin jury grid with an average score of 3.1.
See the final 2024 grid below.
The last three titles to land, Meryam Joobeur’s Who Do I Belong To?; Gustav Möller’s Sons; and Min Bahadur Bham’s Shambhala, could not unseat the duo after scoring 2.8, 2.1 and 2.4 respectively.
Who Do I Belong To? follows a Tunisian mother struggling to cope when her jihadist son returns from Syria. It earned two fours (excellent) from Die Zeit’s Katja Nicodemus and Meduza’s Anton Dolin,...
See the final 2024 grid below.
The last three titles to land, Meryam Joobeur’s Who Do I Belong To?; Gustav Möller’s Sons; and Min Bahadur Bham’s Shambhala, could not unseat the duo after scoring 2.8, 2.1 and 2.4 respectively.
Who Do I Belong To? follows a Tunisian mother struggling to cope when her jihadist son returns from Syria. It earned two fours (excellent) from Die Zeit’s Katja Nicodemus and Meduza’s Anton Dolin,...
- 2/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
When it comes to romance, everyone knows that you shouldn't wait too long... Don't let all of life go by, and have the courage to say hi to someone before it's too late. That's the wisdom explored in this delightful new film from Iran titled My Favourite Cake (labeled as Keyke mahboobe man in the Berlinale line-up). The film is both written & directed by the Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, and premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival in the Main Competition section (though it didn't win any awards). Unfortunately the two filmmakers are being kept in Iran, as the government took their passports and imposed a travel ban. Nonetheless, this film stands out within the Berlinale line-up as an entertaining-for-everyone heartfelt story of romance. The best compliment I can give is that it has the vibe of an Iranian Before Sunrise telling a charming story about two 70-year-old single,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The independent juries of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival early Saturday unveiled their picks of the best movies at the 2024 Berlinale.
Matthias Glasner’s German family epic Sterben (Dying), and the Iranian feature My Favourite Cake from directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, both of which are considered frontrunners for the top prize at the official festival ceremony on Saturday night, received multiple awards for the indie juries, as did Dag Johan Haugerud’s Norwegian drama Sex, a critical favorite from this year’s Panorama sidebar.
Sterben, which follows a classical conductor (played by Lars Eidinger) and his very dysfunctional family, won the best film honor from the guild of German arthouse cinemas and the top prize awarded by the jury of Berliner Morgenpost readers representing the Berlin newspaper.
My Favourite Cake, a quiet drama about a 70-year-old widow who takes a chance on new love, won the Fipresci...
Matthias Glasner’s German family epic Sterben (Dying), and the Iranian feature My Favourite Cake from directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, both of which are considered frontrunners for the top prize at the official festival ceremony on Saturday night, received multiple awards for the indie juries, as did Dag Johan Haugerud’s Norwegian drama Sex, a critical favorite from this year’s Panorama sidebar.
Sterben, which follows a classical conductor (played by Lars Eidinger) and his very dysfunctional family, won the best film honor from the guild of German arthouse cinemas and the top prize awarded by the jury of Berliner Morgenpost readers representing the Berlin newspaper.
My Favourite Cake, a quiet drama about a 70-year-old widow who takes a chance on new love, won the Fipresci...
- 2/24/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The awards ceremony for the 74th Berlin International Film Festival kicks off Saturday night, where this year’s jury, headed by 12 Years a Slave and Black Panther actress Lupita Nyong’o, will hand out the coveted Gold and Silver Bears.
Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Iranian drama My Favourite Cake is being given good odds for an award this year. The drama, about a 70-year-old widow and her tentative attempts at romance with an age-appropriate taxi driver, was a critical fave. A win for the film would also send a political message after the Iranian government banned the directors from attending Berlin. If the jury picks out Cake for the Golden Bear it would be the third time in 10 years —following Jafar Panahi’s Taxi (2015) and There Is No Evil (2020) from Mohammad Rasoulof —that Berlin has given its top honor to Iranian directors in absentia. World sales for My...
Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Iranian drama My Favourite Cake is being given good odds for an award this year. The drama, about a 70-year-old widow and her tentative attempts at romance with an age-appropriate taxi driver, was a critical fave. A win for the film would also send a political message after the Iranian government banned the directors from attending Berlin. If the jury picks out Cake for the Golden Bear it would be the third time in 10 years —following Jafar Panahi’s Taxi (2015) and There Is No Evil (2020) from Mohammad Rasoulof —that Berlin has given its top honor to Iranian directors in absentia. World sales for My...
- 2/23/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alex Garland’s Civil War will receive its world premiere at SXSW on March 14, the festival said on Thursday.
Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman star and A24 produced alongside Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA, and Gregory Goodman.
The action film set in a splintered America balanced on a knife’s edge marks the British filmmaker’s first return to SXSW following the 2015 North American premiere of his directorial debut, the sci-fi Ex Machina.
“Alex Garland’s Civil War is a gorgeous, haunting, and powerful piece of cinema unlike anything else you...
Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman star and A24 produced alongside Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA, and Gregory Goodman.
The action film set in a splintered America balanced on a knife’s edge marks the British filmmaker’s first return to SXSW following the 2015 North American premiere of his directorial debut, the sci-fi Ex Machina.
“Alex Garland’s Civil War is a gorgeous, haunting, and powerful piece of cinema unlike anything else you...
- 2/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Psychological thriller The Devil’s Bath has scored an average of 3.1 from critics on Screen’s Berlin jury grid, meaning it is now the joint leader alongside My Favourite Cake.
The latest from Austrian Goodnight Mommy duo Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala received two four stars (excellent) from Barbara Hollender (Poland’s Rzeczpospolita) and Paolo Bertolin cinematografo.it while five critics gave it three (good). Rita Di Santo (UK’s Morning Star) was less in favour of the film, following a newly married woman in 1750 who commits a shocking act of violence, awarding it just one star (poor).
Click on the...
The latest from Austrian Goodnight Mommy duo Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala received two four stars (excellent) from Barbara Hollender (Poland’s Rzeczpospolita) and Paolo Bertolin cinematografo.it while five critics gave it three (good). Rita Di Santo (UK’s Morning Star) was less in favour of the film, following a newly married woman in 1750 who commits a shocking act of violence, awarding it just one star (poor).
Click on the...
- 2/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Curzon Film has picked up Berlinale Competition title My Favourite Cake for UK and Ireland distribution.
France’s Totem Films is handling international sales on Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeh’s Iranian tragicomedy, which follows a widow living in solitude who decides one day to restart her love life.
My Favourite Cake is produced by Iran’s Filmsazan Javan, France’s Caractères Productions, Sweden’s Hobab, and Germany’s Watchmen Productions.
The film has already sold to a range of territories including A Contracorriente in Spain, Academy Two in Italy, Alamode for Germany and Austria, and Arthaus in Norway.
Premiering at the Berlinale last week,...
France’s Totem Films is handling international sales on Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeh’s Iranian tragicomedy, which follows a widow living in solitude who decides one day to restart her love life.
My Favourite Cake is produced by Iran’s Filmsazan Javan, France’s Caractères Productions, Sweden’s Hobab, and Germany’s Watchmen Productions.
The film has already sold to a range of territories including A Contracorriente in Spain, Academy Two in Italy, Alamode for Germany and Austria, and Arthaus in Norway.
Premiering at the Berlinale last week,...
- 2/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Hong Sangsoo’s A Traveler’s Needs and Mati Diop’s Dahomey earned strong average scores on Screen’s Berlin jury grid, while Bruno Dumont’s The Empire divided critics.
A Traveler’s Needs stars Isabelle Huppert as a French woman teaching in Korea and is currently on an average of 2.9, with one score still to come (from Paolo Bertolin from cinematografo.it). Screen’s own critic awarded it four stars (excellent), while three critics gave it three stars (good) and three gave it two (average).
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
The score is currently slighter...
A Traveler’s Needs stars Isabelle Huppert as a French woman teaching in Korea and is currently on an average of 2.9, with one score still to come (from Paolo Bertolin from cinematografo.it). Screen’s own critic awarded it four stars (excellent), while three critics gave it three stars (good) and three gave it two (average).
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
The score is currently slighter...
- 2/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
France’s Totem Films has signed a slew of international deals at the EFM for Berlin competition title My Favourite Cake, directed by Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha.
The Iranian tragicomedy follows a 70-year-old woman who breaks out of her solitary routine by trying to invigorate her love life. The film stars newcomer Lily Farhadpour alongside veteran Iranian actor Esmail Mehrabi.
It has sold to A Contracorriente in Spain, Academy Two in Italy, Alamode for Germany and Austria, and Arthaus in Norway.
The film took an early lead on Screen’s jury grid and had previously inked pre-sales...
The Iranian tragicomedy follows a 70-year-old woman who breaks out of her solitary routine by trying to invigorate her love life. The film stars newcomer Lily Farhadpour alongside veteran Iranian actor Esmail Mehrabi.
It has sold to A Contracorriente in Spain, Academy Two in Italy, Alamode for Germany and Austria, and Arthaus in Norway.
The film took an early lead on Screen’s jury grid and had previously inked pre-sales...
- 2/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
Ukrainian drama project Screaming Girl has scooped the top prize at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
The feature won the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award, worth €20,000, which went to Kyiv-based producers Forefilms.
Director Antonio Lukich is known for comedy-drama Luxembourg, Luxembourg, which screened in the Horizons strand of the Venice Film Festival in 2022. His debut was My Thoughts Are Silent, which won a special jury prize at Karlovy Vary in 2019.
Screaming Girl centres on a girl who, after the invasion of Ukraine, finds herself in Ireland and pursues her dream of becoming an actress. However, she begins to experience strange and fantastical events that disrupt her life,...
The feature won the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award, worth €20,000, which went to Kyiv-based producers Forefilms.
Director Antonio Lukich is known for comedy-drama Luxembourg, Luxembourg, which screened in the Horizons strand of the Venice Film Festival in 2022. His debut was My Thoughts Are Silent, which won a special jury prize at Karlovy Vary in 2019.
Screaming Girl centres on a girl who, after the invasion of Ukraine, finds herself in Ireland and pursues her dream of becoming an actress. However, she begins to experience strange and fantastical events that disrupt her life,...
- 2/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
by Elisa Giudici
My Favourite Cake © Hamid Janipour
Three more movies from Berlinale to discuss including a great Iranian film, the latest from Olivier Assayas, and a World War II picture.
My Favourite Cake by Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghadda
Once again, Iranian cinema, amidst the myriad challenges of filming in a hostile political environment, offers a memorable title. My Favourite Cake is a brilliant bittersweet romantic comedy, addressing universal themes with sudden, precise glimpses into Iranian reality...
My Favourite Cake © Hamid Janipour
Three more movies from Berlinale to discuss including a great Iranian film, the latest from Olivier Assayas, and a World War II picture.
My Favourite Cake by Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghadda
Once again, Iranian cinema, amidst the myriad challenges of filming in a hostile political environment, offers a memorable title. My Favourite Cake is a brilliant bittersweet romantic comedy, addressing universal themes with sudden, precise glimpses into Iranian reality...
- 2/18/2024
- by Elisa Giudici
- FilmExperience
Iranian tragicomedy My Favourite Cake has taken the early lead on Screen international’ s 2024 Berlin competition jury grid, with scores for seven titles now in.
The latest from Iranian duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha follows a 70-year-old woman who breaks out of her solitary routine by trying to invigorate her love life. It scored a strong 3.1 average, including three fours (excellent) from Ahmed Shawkey (Egypt’s filfan.com), Rita Di Santo (UK’s Morning Star) and Screen’s own critic.
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
Currently in joint second on the grid with...
The latest from Iranian duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha follows a 70-year-old woman who breaks out of her solitary routine by trying to invigorate her love life. It scored a strong 3.1 average, including three fours (excellent) from Ahmed Shawkey (Egypt’s filfan.com), Rita Di Santo (UK’s Morning Star) and Screen’s own critic.
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
Currently in joint second on the grid with...
- 2/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Like taxis on a rainy night, you wait for ages for a great, bittersweet film about love in late middle age with a side helping of gastronomic lusciousness — and then two come along at once. Tehran-set but internationally-produced comedy-drama My Favourite Cake premiered at the Berlin Film Festival a day after Valentine’s Day. That day just so happened to overlap with the release of French drama The Taste of Things in several key territories. (Taste opened in the U.S. on Feb. 9.)
Of course, writer-directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha‘s Berlinale competitor is very different from Tran Anh Hung’s period study starring Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel, but the two films overlap in fascinating ways. Both remind viewers of the ephemeral nature of all things. Both are sublime portraits of complicated, older souls, one of whom is an excellent cook who expresses love through food. And in both,...
Of course, writer-directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha‘s Berlinale competitor is very different from Tran Anh Hung’s period study starring Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel, but the two films overlap in fascinating ways. Both remind viewers of the ephemeral nature of all things. Both are sublime portraits of complicated, older souls, one of whom is an excellent cook who expresses love through food. And in both,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tim Mielants’ Berlinale opening film Small Things Like These is the first film to land on Screen’s Berlin 2024 Competition jury grid.
Cillian Murphy stars as a quiet man with a conscience in 1980s Ireland in this adaptation of Claire Keegan’s novella, which is produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Artists Equity.
Eight critics are taking part in this year’s jury grid and will mark all 20 films playing in competition.
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
The film divided critics, earning an average score of 2.4 overall. It received four two-star ratings...
Cillian Murphy stars as a quiet man with a conscience in 1980s Ireland in this adaptation of Claire Keegan’s novella, which is produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Artists Equity.
Eight critics are taking part in this year’s jury grid and will mark all 20 films playing in competition.
Click on the jury grid above for the most up-to-date version.
The film divided critics, earning an average score of 2.4 overall. It received four two-star ratings...
- 2/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
Iranian filmmakers Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghadam’s new feature My Favourite Cake world premieres at the Berlinale on Friday but the directors are not at the festival having been slapped with a travel ban by Iran’s authoritarian Islamic Republic regime.
Their absence was marked at the press conference by two empty seats and a joint portrait, while lead actress Lily Farhadpour, who has been allowed to make the journey, read out a statement on their behalf.
“We feel like parents who are forbidden from even looking at their new-born child,” it read. “We’re sad and we’re tired, but we’re not alone. This is the magic of cinema. Cinema brings us together. It is a window which opens up a time and a place where we can meet.”
Their quirky comedy-drama stars Farhadpour as a lonely widow who seizes the moment and invites a taxi driver...
Their absence was marked at the press conference by two empty seats and a joint portrait, while lead actress Lily Farhadpour, who has been allowed to make the journey, read out a statement on their behalf.
“We feel like parents who are forbidden from even looking at their new-born child,” it read. “We’re sad and we’re tired, but we’re not alone. This is the magic of cinema. Cinema brings us together. It is a window which opens up a time and a place where we can meet.”
Their quirky comedy-drama stars Farhadpour as a lonely widow who seizes the moment and invites a taxi driver...
- 2/16/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
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