He pitched slave-ship dramas to Ingmar Bergman, cast Marlon Brando as a bisexual man and wrote a Malcolm X screenplay that horrified the FBI. Why was this cinephile spurned by Hollywood?
It’s fair to say James Baldwin wasn’t a fan of The Exorcist. “It has absolutely nothing going for it,” he wrote in his 1976 memoir-meets-criticism collection The Devil Finds Work. “Except Satan, who is certainly the star.” William Friedkin’s 1973 horror hit about a possessed schoolgirl might have caused havoc in theatres, but for the African American literary giant it was a garish dud that missed the real target. “For, I have seen the devil, by day and by night, and have seen him in you and in me,” he went on. “He does not levitate beds, or fool around with little girls: we do.”
Baldwin wasn’t an opportunist critic bashing a big commercial hit – he was...
It’s fair to say James Baldwin wasn’t a fan of The Exorcist. “It has absolutely nothing going for it,” he wrote in his 1976 memoir-meets-criticism collection The Devil Finds Work. “Except Satan, who is certainly the star.” William Friedkin’s 1973 horror hit about a possessed schoolgirl might have caused havoc in theatres, but for the African American literary giant it was a garish dud that missed the real target. “For, I have seen the devil, by day and by night, and have seen him in you and in me,” he went on. “He does not levitate beds, or fool around with little girls: we do.”
Baldwin wasn’t an opportunist critic bashing a big commercial hit – he was...
- 4/30/2024
- by Lanre Bakare
- The Guardian - Film News
Baltimore native John Waters is filmdom’s pencil-mustached titan of trash who has spent a lifetime of dumpster-diving into a vat of bad taste, sleaze, kinky gross-outs, over-the-top camp, maudlin melodramatics, sick jokes, taboo sexuality, vulgarity and bizarre personalities. At least he has a fabulous sense of humor. The director is a New York University film school dropout who instead became a scholar of transgressive, envelope-shredding cinema, influenced by the directorial likes of Herschell Gordon Lewis, Federico Fellini, William Castle, Douglas Sirk and Ingmar Bergman. Early on, Waters assembled a stock company of players from suburban Baltimore who he would the Dreamlanders, including Mink Stole and Edith Massey.
But Waters would find his true muse and favorite leading lady in his childhood friend, Glenn Milstead, a drag queen whose alter-ego was known as Divine. When Milstead died at age 42 from an enlarged heart in 1988, Waters’ output went more mainstream, with...
But Waters would find his true muse and favorite leading lady in his childhood friend, Glenn Milstead, a drag queen whose alter-ego was known as Divine. When Milstead died at age 42 from an enlarged heart in 1988, Waters’ output went more mainstream, with...
- 4/20/2024
- by Susan Wloszczyna, Misty Holland and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
by Cláudio Alves
NAUSICAÄ Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984) is the only Miyazaki film ever screened at Cannes.
In 1997, to mark the occasion of its 50th edition, the Cannes Film Festival awarded a special Palme des Palmes to Ingmar Bergman. Afterward, and since 2002, it has also attributed the Honorary Palme d'Or to film artists in honor of their esteemed careers. Until now, the prize has gone to directors, producers and actors such as Catherine Deneuve, Manoel de Oliveira, and Agnès Varda, among many others. This year, however, the festival will award its first Palme d'Or to animated cinema and a group rather than an individual. The honoree is Studio Ghibli, cofounded by Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and the dear departed Isao Takahata. This comes after The Boy and the Heron won the studio its second Oscar and breaks with American dominance over these Honorary awards in the past few years.
NAUSICAÄ Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984) is the only Miyazaki film ever screened at Cannes.
In 1997, to mark the occasion of its 50th edition, the Cannes Film Festival awarded a special Palme des Palmes to Ingmar Bergman. Afterward, and since 2002, it has also attributed the Honorary Palme d'Or to film artists in honor of their esteemed careers. Until now, the prize has gone to directors, producers and actors such as Catherine Deneuve, Manoel de Oliveira, and Agnès Varda, among many others. This year, however, the festival will award its first Palme d'Or to animated cinema and a group rather than an individual. The honoree is Studio Ghibli, cofounded by Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and the dear departed Isao Takahata. This comes after The Boy and the Heron won the studio its second Oscar and breaks with American dominance over these Honorary awards in the past few years.
- 4/17/2024
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
One of Hollywood's most frustrating recent news stories is that Francis Ford Coppola is having trouble finding distribution for his self-funded passion project, "Megalopolis" (via The Hollywood Reporter). In a just world, making "The Godfather" would grant Coppola a lifetime blank check, but that has never been the world we've lived in.
What you may not be aware of is one of Coppola's influences for his magnum opus. Like his friend "Star Wars" director George Lucas, Coppola looked to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While Lucas took after Kurosawa's Jidaigeki (historical) films, Coppola looked to one of the director's contemporary-set films: "The Bad Sleep Well."
Released in 1960 and starring his go-to leading man Toshiro Mifune, the movie is one of Kurosawa's (comparatively) more obscure ones. It was especially overshadowed by "High and Low," the masterful kidnapping thriller that Kurosawa and Mifune released in 1963. Both movies are set in the world of...
What you may not be aware of is one of Coppola's influences for his magnum opus. Like his friend "Star Wars" director George Lucas, Coppola looked to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While Lucas took after Kurosawa's Jidaigeki (historical) films, Coppola looked to one of the director's contemporary-set films: "The Bad Sleep Well."
Released in 1960 and starring his go-to leading man Toshiro Mifune, the movie is one of Kurosawa's (comparatively) more obscure ones. It was especially overshadowed by "High and Low," the masterful kidnapping thriller that Kurosawa and Mifune released in 1963. Both movies are set in the world of...
- 4/15/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
While it was fascinating to see the results of the 2022 Sight & Sound poll, we’re just as curious to see what lies outside the established canon. As part of a comprehensive project at the essential resource They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?, Ángel González polled nearly 839 critics on the best films that didn’t receive a single vote on the Sight & Sound poll, which they’ve now compiled into a massive Beyond the Sight & Sound Canon, which initially features 1,030 films but expands to a whopping 14,558 total films.
As a preview, we’ve collected the films that received at least 20 votes in this new poll, which is 263. It’s led by Spike Jonze’s Her, and they’ve also noted the directors that were most represented. Fritz Lang leads the pack with eight films mentioned, while François Truffaut has seven, and Anthony Mann, Clint Eastwood, Eric Rohmer, John Ford, Samuel Fuller,...
As a preview, we’ve collected the films that received at least 20 votes in this new poll, which is 263. It’s led by Spike Jonze’s Her, and they’ve also noted the directors that were most represented. Fritz Lang leads the pack with eight films mentioned, while François Truffaut has seven, and Anthony Mann, Clint Eastwood, Eric Rohmer, John Ford, Samuel Fuller,...
- 4/8/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
There's an entire generation of movie lovers who first encountered Jackie Chan in the "Rush Hour" films. The actor, director and stuntsman didn't have a huge love for the franchise at the time, perhaps because they barely scratched the surface of what he was capable of as a choreographer. Still, his buddy cop films hold a special place in the hearts of countless action fans, and his rapport with co-star Chris Tucker isn't half bad, either.
The "Rush Hour" trilogy hasn't aged the best in the intervening years, thanks in part to its director, Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017. The film's "East meets West" humor would also never fly today, making the franchise something of a time capsule for irreverent, 2000s humor. Still, we could never get enough of Chan and Tucker — that's why we're all still holding out for that potential "Rush Hour 4." While...
The "Rush Hour" trilogy hasn't aged the best in the intervening years, thanks in part to its director, Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017. The film's "East meets West" humor would also never fly today, making the franchise something of a time capsule for irreverent, 2000s humor. Still, we could never get enough of Chan and Tucker — that's why we're all still holding out for that potential "Rush Hour 4." While...
- 3/31/2024
- by Lyvie Scott
- Slash Film
French actress Juliette Binoche (“The English Patient”) will be the next president of the European Film Academy Board, succeeding Polish director Agnieszka Holland (“Europa”) in the honorary role. Holland was the first female president of the board.
Binoche was unanimously proposed by the board members after Holland decided to step down. Following a formal approval process, which historically has been a mere formality, Binoche’s appointment will officially begin on May 1, 2024. The presidential role is primarily symbolic.
Holland, who served as chairwoman of the board until 2019, became president in 2021, succeeding German director Wim Wenders. Holland plans to fully dedicate her time to making films.
Holland’s “Europa” won the Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Her 2023 film “Green Border” won the Special Jury Prize at Venice International Film Festival.
Mike Downey, the current chair of the board, and Academy CEO Matthijs Wouter Knol said...
Binoche was unanimously proposed by the board members after Holland decided to step down. Following a formal approval process, which historically has been a mere formality, Binoche’s appointment will officially begin on May 1, 2024. The presidential role is primarily symbolic.
Holland, who served as chairwoman of the board until 2019, became president in 2021, succeeding German director Wim Wenders. Holland plans to fully dedicate her time to making films.
Holland’s “Europa” won the Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Her 2023 film “Green Border” won the Special Jury Prize at Venice International Film Festival.
Mike Downey, the current chair of the board, and Academy CEO Matthijs Wouter Knol said...
- 3/14/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
French actor Juliette Binoche will be the new president of the European Film Academy (Efa) when Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland steps down on May 1.
The Academy board unanimously proposed The Taste Of Things actor. Members now have until the end of April to vote their approval – a majority needs to be reached for Binoche to succeed.
Holland has been president since 2021, after previously serving as chairwoman of the board until 2019. The Green Border director said she is stepping down to focus on filmmaking.
“I am not a person to easily step aside, but I have come to the conclusion that...
The Academy board unanimously proposed The Taste Of Things actor. Members now have until the end of April to vote their approval – a majority needs to be reached for Binoche to succeed.
Holland has been president since 2021, after previously serving as chairwoman of the board until 2019. The Green Border director said she is stepping down to focus on filmmaking.
“I am not a person to easily step aside, but I have come to the conclusion that...
- 3/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Juliette Binoche, the Oscar-winning French actor whose sprawling career shows no signs of slowing down, is set to succeed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland as president of the European Film Academy.
The honorary role was previously held by Ingmar Bergman, who served as the first president and was originally chosen by the 40 founding Academy members in 1989. Wim Wenders, who succeeded Bergman in 1996, served until 2020, followed by Holland, who became the first female president and has now decided to step down.
“We want to honour Agnieszka Holland’s wish and completely understand that responsibilities besides filmmaking, however inspiring and important, can sometimes stand in the way of creating art,” said the chair of the Board Mike Downey and Academy CEO Matthijs Wouter Knol in a statement shared with all Academy members in 52 European countries. “A decision like this is also one that makes us realise how much we owe to Agnieszka Holland’s work for our institution.
The honorary role was previously held by Ingmar Bergman, who served as the first president and was originally chosen by the 40 founding Academy members in 1989. Wim Wenders, who succeeded Bergman in 1996, served until 2020, followed by Holland, who became the first female president and has now decided to step down.
“We want to honour Agnieszka Holland’s wish and completely understand that responsibilities besides filmmaking, however inspiring and important, can sometimes stand in the way of creating art,” said the chair of the Board Mike Downey and Academy CEO Matthijs Wouter Knol in a statement shared with all Academy members in 52 European countries. “A decision like this is also one that makes us realise how much we owe to Agnieszka Holland’s work for our institution.
- 3/14/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
French actress Juliette Binoche has been announced as the new president of the European Film Academy, replacing Polish director Agnieszka Holland.
The body said Binoche had been unanimously proposed by the members of the Efa board after Holland expressed her desire to step down in 2024.
The role of Efa President is an honorary one and holds a symbolic power for the Berlin-based body, representing more than 4,600 cinema professionals across Europe.
Ingmar Bergman served as the first President and was originally chosen by the 40 founding Academy members in 1989.
He was followed by Wim Wenders in 1996, who held the post until 2020. His sucessor Holland was the Academy’s first female President.
Binoche will formally take up the role on May 1 2024, after a majority of the 4,600 members of the European Film Academy have given their vote of approval until the end of April 2024.
Holland indicated her decision to step down this spring, expressing...
The body said Binoche had been unanimously proposed by the members of the Efa board after Holland expressed her desire to step down in 2024.
The role of Efa President is an honorary one and holds a symbolic power for the Berlin-based body, representing more than 4,600 cinema professionals across Europe.
Ingmar Bergman served as the first President and was originally chosen by the 40 founding Academy members in 1989.
He was followed by Wim Wenders in 1996, who held the post until 2020. His sucessor Holland was the Academy’s first female President.
Binoche will formally take up the role on May 1 2024, after a majority of the 4,600 members of the European Film Academy have given their vote of approval until the end of April 2024.
Holland indicated her decision to step down this spring, expressing...
- 3/14/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Ludwig Göransson made good on an awards-season sweep by winning an Academy Award Sunday night for the music of “Oppenheimer,” his second career win for best original score.
The Oscar completes a run the 39-year-old Swedish composer has had picking up Grammy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics Choice and Society of Composers & Lyricists awards for the score of Christopher Nolan’s film.
Read More: See all the 2024 Oscar winners here.
Göransson previously won the original score Oscar for 2018’s “Black Panther.” He also has two Emmys for the music of “The Mandalorian,” another Oscar nomination for a song in 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and three more Grammys for “Black Panther” and his songwriting-producing work with Childish Gambino.
Göransson’s was one of seven Oscars won by “Oppenheimer.” At the podium, he thanked director Nolan for his initial idea to use the violin as a central instrument in the score, which...
The Oscar completes a run the 39-year-old Swedish composer has had picking up Grammy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics Choice and Society of Composers & Lyricists awards for the score of Christopher Nolan’s film.
Read More: See all the 2024 Oscar winners here.
Göransson previously won the original score Oscar for 2018’s “Black Panther.” He also has two Emmys for the music of “The Mandalorian,” another Oscar nomination for a song in 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and three more Grammys for “Black Panther” and his songwriting-producing work with Childish Gambino.
Göransson’s was one of seven Oscars won by “Oppenheimer.” At the podium, he thanked director Nolan for his initial idea to use the violin as a central instrument in the score, which...
- 3/11/2024
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Reader, you have been lied to! Film history is littered with unfairly maligned classics, whether critics were too eager to review the making of rather than the finished product, or they suffered from underwhelming ad campaigns or general disinterest. Let’s revise our takes on some of these films from the wrongheaded to the correct opinion.
The list of sequels to masterpieces that can be considered masterpieces themselves isn’t a very long one; “The Godfather Part II” is an obvious candidate, and arguments can be made for James Cameron‘s “Aliens” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” “Blade Runner 2049,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and “The Color of Money” all have their partisans, and Ingmar Bergman scored a late-career triumph with his “Scenes From a Marriage” sequel “Saraband.” One movie that almost never gets mentioned in this company is “The Two Jakes,” the 1990 sequel to “Chinatown” directed by its star,...
The list of sequels to masterpieces that can be considered masterpieces themselves isn’t a very long one; “The Godfather Part II” is an obvious candidate, and arguments can be made for James Cameron‘s “Aliens” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” “Blade Runner 2049,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and “The Color of Money” all have their partisans, and Ingmar Bergman scored a late-career triumph with his “Scenes From a Marriage” sequel “Saraband.” One movie that almost never gets mentioned in this company is “The Two Jakes,” the 1990 sequel to “Chinatown” directed by its star,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
In an entirely objective and deeply serious critique, filmmaker Joel Coen has reviewed his brother’s new movie Drive-Away Dolls without being mean and petty even once.
If you want a masterclass in writing a professional film review, look no further than filmmaker Joel Coen’s measured, thoughtful critique of Drive-Away Dolls, the new thriller which just happens to be directed by Joel’s brother, Ethan.
“Mr Coen’s apparent goal – aside from making Tommy Wiseau look like Ingmar Bergman – was to replicate a 90s B comedy,” Joel Coen writes on Substack. “That he failed to clear even that subterranean bar is the only interesting thing about the film. It is truly stunning to watch a man set out to make the spiritual descendant of Mannequin 2 and then fail…”
The review then descends into a maelstrom of name-calling, childhood bitterness and score-settling that we won’t repeat here. In fact,...
If you want a masterclass in writing a professional film review, look no further than filmmaker Joel Coen’s measured, thoughtful critique of Drive-Away Dolls, the new thriller which just happens to be directed by Joel’s brother, Ethan.
“Mr Coen’s apparent goal – aside from making Tommy Wiseau look like Ingmar Bergman – was to replicate a 90s B comedy,” Joel Coen writes on Substack. “That he failed to clear even that subterranean bar is the only interesting thing about the film. It is truly stunning to watch a man set out to make the spiritual descendant of Mannequin 2 and then fail…”
The review then descends into a maelstrom of name-calling, childhood bitterness and score-settling that we won’t repeat here. In fact,...
- 2/29/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Exclusive: Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson, now best known as the director behind beautiful, taut features like Let the Right One In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, wrote to Swedish screen legend Ingmar Bergman sometime in the early 2000s with an idea. Bergman’s response was characteristically colorful.
“What the hell is this? What do you mean?” Bergman told Alfredson.
Alfredson had told the Persona filmmaker that he wanted to remake Faithless, the 2000 feature Bergman had written about an imaginary woman who recollects her painful experience of adultery to an aging filmmaker. The pic played in competition that year in Cannes and was directed by Bergman’s ex-wife, actress Liv Ullmann.
“This was long before everyone was producing remakes, so it was a very unusual question, especially for Bergman,” Alfredson said.
Fast forward to February 2024 and Alfredson is deep into an edit of a contemporary TV adaptation of Faithless he has...
“What the hell is this? What do you mean?” Bergman told Alfredson.
Alfredson had told the Persona filmmaker that he wanted to remake Faithless, the 2000 feature Bergman had written about an imaginary woman who recollects her painful experience of adultery to an aging filmmaker. The pic played in competition that year in Cannes and was directed by Bergman’s ex-wife, actress Liv Ullmann.
“This was long before everyone was producing remakes, so it was a very unusual question, especially for Bergman,” Alfredson said.
Fast forward to February 2024 and Alfredson is deep into an edit of a contemporary TV adaptation of Faithless he has...
- 2/29/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Erik Poppe to direct ‘Bad Moon Rising’ from first script by Nobel Prize winner Jon Fosse (exclusive)
Erik Poppe will direct Bad Moon Rising [working title], a feature written by fellow Norwegian and recent Nobel Prize-winner Jon Fosse, with a script written 26 years ago and minimally adjusted since.
The film is scheduled to go into production on the second week of September this year, in locations along the western coast of Norway including fjords. Casting is underway.
Poppe took meetings in Berlin over the weekend to secure further financing for the project; he is also waiting on the response from the Norwegian Film Institute regarding its contribution.
The story follows a couple from their first meeting, through their relationship including a son,...
The film is scheduled to go into production on the second week of September this year, in locations along the western coast of Norway including fjords. Casting is underway.
Poppe took meetings in Berlin over the weekend to secure further financing for the project; he is also waiting on the response from the Norwegian Film Institute regarding its contribution.
The story follows a couple from their first meeting, through their relationship including a son,...
- 2/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve recently revealed his four all-time favorite films, spanning sci-fi masterpieces to psychological drama. Topping the list is Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Villeneuve deemed “a perfect movie for many reasons.” As Dune 2 is soon to be released, Villeneuve his idea of the best movies of all time.
Denis Villeneuve Names His All-Time Favorite Films
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
While talking to Letterboxd about his top 4 favorite movies, Denis Villeneuve said:
“My four favorite films, to be honest, that list can change every morning. There’s one of my favorites of all time that’s at top there that stayed there after many years – 2001: A Space Odyssey – for me, a perfect movie for many reasons. Apocalypse Now from Coppola is probably the movie I watch the most in my life; it’s a movie that I absolutely adore.
Denis Villeneuve Names His All-Time Favorite Films
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
While talking to Letterboxd about his top 4 favorite movies, Denis Villeneuve said:
“My four favorite films, to be honest, that list can change every morning. There’s one of my favorites of all time that’s at top there that stayed there after many years – 2001: A Space Odyssey – for me, a perfect movie for many reasons. Apocalypse Now from Coppola is probably the movie I watch the most in my life; it’s a movie that I absolutely adore.
- 2/19/2024
- by Nivedita Dubey
- FandomWire
As the final work in progress wrapped on Friday, Göteborg ‘s head of TV Drama Vision Cia Edström and head of industry and Nordic Film Market Josef Kullengård could finally relax after a mission well accomplished.
Two of their biggest challenges this year – hosting an industry showcase for 700-plus international delegates in a brand-new venue, the Clarion Hotel Draken, and lifting the Nordic industry’s moral by the crisis in the drama sector – had been successfully met. Variety drills down on how and why:
All-Time Record Attendees
As many as 2,029 accredited delegates registered for the festival and industry showcases at the 47th Göteborg Film Festival, and parallel TV and film markets, the largest in the Nordic region. “We’ve never hit this silver line,” said Kullengård. The 18th TV Drama Vision drew 729 delegates, the Nordic Film Market 556.
Ideal New Göteborg Industry Hub
Literally built around Götoborg’s historic Draken Cinema...
Two of their biggest challenges this year – hosting an industry showcase for 700-plus international delegates in a brand-new venue, the Clarion Hotel Draken, and lifting the Nordic industry’s moral by the crisis in the drama sector – had been successfully met. Variety drills down on how and why:
All-Time Record Attendees
As many as 2,029 accredited delegates registered for the festival and industry showcases at the 47th Göteborg Film Festival, and parallel TV and film markets, the largest in the Nordic region. “We’ve never hit this silver line,” said Kullengård. The 18th TV Drama Vision drew 729 delegates, the Nordic Film Market 556.
Ideal New Göteborg Industry Hub
Literally built around Götoborg’s historic Draken Cinema...
- 2/3/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s Best Director lineup is filled with familiar names for cinephiles: Martin Scorsese and Alexander Payne are old pros at this point, Bradley Cooper has long been famous as an actor, and Jonathan Glazer — despite only making four films — has been a known quantity since 2000’s “Sexy Beast.” That just makes it all the more impressive that in this (very male) lineup, Justine Triet not only made it into the category, but was nominated with a film that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with her heavyweight competitors’ works.
Although Triet made her feature debut “Age of Panic” in 2013, it took her a decade to obtain her true breakout moment when her fourth feature “Anatomy of a Fall” premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Starring a never-better Sandra Hüller as a successful writer who is tried for the sudden death of her husband, a fellow creative, the film is a marital drama...
Although Triet made her feature debut “Age of Panic” in 2013, it took her a decade to obtain her true breakout moment when her fourth feature “Anatomy of a Fall” premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Starring a never-better Sandra Hüller as a successful writer who is tried for the sudden death of her husband, a fellow creative, the film is a marital drama...
- 1/31/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
“My role is to sometimes talk to the press or to fight with policemen,” Cannes Delegate General Thierry Fremaux joked during a keynote this evening at the Göteborg Film Festival.
Fremaux had been making a comedic reference to his altercation with a local police officer on the pavement outside the Carlton Hotel at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The altercation — which went viral — was just one of the topics Fremaux touched on this evening in Göteborg during a keynote session with Swedish filmmaker and two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund.
Concluding the description of his unique job title, Fremaux added: “We are really at the service of the artist, the press, the audience and the professionals. If those roles are well done, we are happy.”
The evening’s session was chaired by outgoing Göteborg head Jonas Holmberg, who quizzed the pair on their working relationship and what they...
Fremaux had been making a comedic reference to his altercation with a local police officer on the pavement outside the Carlton Hotel at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The altercation — which went viral — was just one of the topics Fremaux touched on this evening in Göteborg during a keynote session with Swedish filmmaker and two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund.
Concluding the description of his unique job title, Fremaux added: “We are really at the service of the artist, the press, the audience and the professionals. If those roles are well done, we are happy.”
The evening’s session was chaired by outgoing Göteborg head Jonas Holmberg, who quizzed the pair on their working relationship and what they...
- 1/31/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Yorgos Lanthimos. Christopher Nolan. Justine Triet. Jonathan Glazer.
What do these four directors have in common? They were all among the nominees for this year’s Academy Awards, and none of them were born in the United States. Lanthimos is Greek, Triet is French, and Nolan and Glazer are British. Among the nominees, only New Yorker Martin Scorsese is American-born.
The last time only one American-born director made it to that year’s Best Director lineup was back in 1997, when Miloš Forman (Czech), Scott Hicks (Australian), Mike Leigh and Anthony Minghella (both English) received Oscar nominations. Of course, this is only technically true. Joel Coen was the one American in the category, yet it was due to a guild rule that he received sole credit for directing despite his helming “Fargo” with his brother Ethan, who would’ve been the second American among the nominees.
SEEOscars: Justine Triet is 8th...
What do these four directors have in common? They were all among the nominees for this year’s Academy Awards, and none of them were born in the United States. Lanthimos is Greek, Triet is French, and Nolan and Glazer are British. Among the nominees, only New Yorker Martin Scorsese is American-born.
The last time only one American-born director made it to that year’s Best Director lineup was back in 1997, when Miloš Forman (Czech), Scott Hicks (Australian), Mike Leigh and Anthony Minghella (both English) received Oscar nominations. Of course, this is only technically true. Joel Coen was the one American in the category, yet it was due to a guild rule that he received sole credit for directing despite his helming “Fargo” with his brother Ethan, who would’ve been the second American among the nominees.
SEEOscars: Justine Triet is 8th...
- 1/31/2024
- by Sebastian Ochoa Mendoza
- Gold Derby
One of Scandinavia most interesting new voices, propelled onto the world festival stage with her short film “The Manila Lover,” a Norwegian Amanda best short film and Cannes Critics’ Week nominee, Oslo-based Johanna Pyykkö is competing at the Göteborg Film Festival with her feature debut “My Wonderful Stranger,” which she helmed and co-wrote with Jørgen Færøy Flasnes (“Nudes”).
Shepherding her debut are Dyveke Bjørkly Graver (“Sick of Myself”) and Renée Hansen Mlodyszewski, an associate producer on “The Worst Person in the World,” who produced the pic for Oslo Pictures, in co-production with France’s Bathysphere, MB17 Films, Arte France and Sweden’s Garagefilm. Pyramide International handles sales.
“My Wonderful Stranger” will bow in French cinemas June 5, via Pyramide Distribution. Scandinavian Film Distribution handles Scandinavian rights.
The story turns on the lonely Ebba, 18, who works as a cleaner at Oslo’s harbour. One night, she finds a beautiful man with a...
Shepherding her debut are Dyveke Bjørkly Graver (“Sick of Myself”) and Renée Hansen Mlodyszewski, an associate producer on “The Worst Person in the World,” who produced the pic for Oslo Pictures, in co-production with France’s Bathysphere, MB17 Films, Arte France and Sweden’s Garagefilm. Pyramide International handles sales.
“My Wonderful Stranger” will bow in French cinemas June 5, via Pyramide Distribution. Scandinavian Film Distribution handles Scandinavian rights.
The story turns on the lonely Ebba, 18, who works as a cleaner at Oslo’s harbour. One night, she finds a beautiful man with a...
- 1/30/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Michael I. Levy, a veteran talent representative involved in the careers of such major stars and players as Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Duval, Bruce Lee, Marlon Brando and William Peter Blattey, died January 11 of complications from Covid pneumonia. He was 84.
His death was announced today by his family.
At the start of his career, Levy represented blacklisted film and TV writers including Waldo Salt, Ring Lardner Jr., and Dalton Trumbo. He would later participate in the careers of Milos Foreman, Michael Mann, Ingmar Bergman, John Huston, John Landis, Mario Puzo and Stan Lee of Marvel Comics as well as Marvel Comics itself.
Through his Michael I. Levy Enterprises, Levy packaged more than 100 films, TV series, and TV movies for major producing clients. In 1981, he became President and CEO of CBS Theatrical Film Group, contributing to the Fox-cbs video deal and the formation of Tri-Star Motion Pictures.
Throughout his career,...
His death was announced today by his family.
At the start of his career, Levy represented blacklisted film and TV writers including Waldo Salt, Ring Lardner Jr., and Dalton Trumbo. He would later participate in the careers of Milos Foreman, Michael Mann, Ingmar Bergman, John Huston, John Landis, Mario Puzo and Stan Lee of Marvel Comics as well as Marvel Comics itself.
Through his Michael I. Levy Enterprises, Levy packaged more than 100 films, TV series, and TV movies for major producing clients. In 1981, he became President and CEO of CBS Theatrical Film Group, contributing to the Fox-cbs video deal and the formation of Tri-Star Motion Pictures.
Throughout his career,...
- 1/23/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Passion and Perseverance, the two watchwords at this year’s TV Drama Vision in Göteborg will resonate across this year’s program where a record 700 delegates will take the pulse of what’s hot and upcoming from the Nordics and Europe.
Unfolding parallel to the Göteborg Film Festival, the Nordics’ biggest TV drama showcase and networking event will run Jan 30-31.
“This is what we need!” said TV Drama Vision honcho Cia Edström about the passion infused in the 60-plus series to be showcased – and about perseverance in the industry, to be debated by the 100 guest speakers – including U.S. streaming giants Netflix, Disney+– first time on-stage – Amazon and all key Nordic commissioners.
“Times are tough-not only in the Nordics but internationally. Our industry is going through profound changes,” she said, citing the microeconomic headwinds impacting drama investors’ coin, artificial intelligence, the halt in production-triggered among others by Hollywood strikes,...
Unfolding parallel to the Göteborg Film Festival, the Nordics’ biggest TV drama showcase and networking event will run Jan 30-31.
“This is what we need!” said TV Drama Vision honcho Cia Edström about the passion infused in the 60-plus series to be showcased – and about perseverance in the industry, to be debated by the 100 guest speakers – including U.S. streaming giants Netflix, Disney+– first time on-stage – Amazon and all key Nordic commissioners.
“Times are tough-not only in the Nordics but internationally. Our industry is going through profound changes,” she said, citing the microeconomic headwinds impacting drama investors’ coin, artificial intelligence, the halt in production-triggered among others by Hollywood strikes,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
“Beef” keeps serving up awards season.
The Netflix limited series won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, shortly after taking home the title of Best Limited Series at the 2024 Golden Globes. Ali Wong won the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series category, and Steven Yeun won for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series also during the Golden Globes ceremony.
Both actors won in their respective lead star categories at the Emmys, with Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, and Maria Bello earning nominations for their supporting performances.
The 10-episode series “Beef” beat out “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” “Fleishman Is in Trouble,” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology category.
The Netflix dramedy was among the top critically acclaimed series of the year. Created by Lee Sung Jin, the series centers on two Los Angeles residents,...
The Netflix limited series won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, shortly after taking home the title of Best Limited Series at the 2024 Golden Globes. Ali Wong won the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series category, and Steven Yeun won for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series also during the Golden Globes ceremony.
Both actors won in their respective lead star categories at the Emmys, with Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, and Maria Bello earning nominations for their supporting performances.
The 10-episode series “Beef” beat out “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” “Fleishman Is in Trouble,” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology category.
The Netflix dramedy was among the top critically acclaimed series of the year. Created by Lee Sung Jin, the series centers on two Los Angeles residents,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Three attempts to make fetch happen: The original Mean Girls (top), the new Mean Girls adaptation (middle) and the Broadway version of Mean Girls (bottom)Image: Screenshot: Paramount Pictures, Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images, Jojo Whilden/Paramount © 2023 Paramount Pictures (Getty Images)
Mean Girls,...
Mean Girls,...
- 1/13/2024
- by Drew Gillis
- avclub.com
The European Film Academy has unveiled its new board which has been voted in under updated guidelines aimed at ensuring a more balanced geographical representation of its members.
Three incumbent board members have been re-elected for a fresh two-year term running from 2024-25. Mike Downey (Ireland/UK) will continue as chair of the board with Joanna Szymańska (Poland) joining Ada Solomon (Romania) as Deputy Chair.
Another eight new members have been voted in for the next two years, while a further six incumbent members will continue their mandate until the end of 2024.
The new structure has increased board representation of members in countries in Northeastern and Southeastern Europe such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia.
A new seat representing members from transnational populations is dedicated to Sámi filmmakers from 2024-2025, followed by Romani filmmakers for 2026-2027.
Anne-Lajla Utsi (Sápmi/Norway), who is head...
Three incumbent board members have been re-elected for a fresh two-year term running from 2024-25. Mike Downey (Ireland/UK) will continue as chair of the board with Joanna Szymańska (Poland) joining Ada Solomon (Romania) as Deputy Chair.
Another eight new members have been voted in for the next two years, while a further six incumbent members will continue their mandate until the end of 2024.
The new structure has increased board representation of members in countries in Northeastern and Southeastern Europe such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia.
A new seat representing members from transnational populations is dedicated to Sámi filmmakers from 2024-2025, followed by Romani filmmakers for 2026-2027.
Anne-Lajla Utsi (Sápmi/Norway), who is head...
- 1/10/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival unveiled its 2024 lineup today, featuring 250 feature films set to screen across ten days, with highlights including Handling the Undead, Norwegian filmmaker Thea Hvistendahl’s feature debut, starring Renate Resinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie. Other buzzy titles include the Finish title The Missile from filmmaker Miia Tervo and Morbius director Daniel Espinosa’s return to Nordic filmmaker with Madame Luna.
Handling the Undead opens the festival following its debut bow at Sundance. The pic, an adaptation of a novel by Let The Right One In writer John Ajvide Lindqvist, tells the story of three families recently left in mourning after the passing of loved ones. Suddenly, the power grid goes out, and the deceased begin to move.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include actor Ewan McGregor, who will receive the festival’s honorary dragon award for career achievement. He will also be in town to...
Handling the Undead opens the festival following its debut bow at Sundance. The pic, an adaptation of a novel by Let The Right One In writer John Ajvide Lindqvist, tells the story of three families recently left in mourning after the passing of loved ones. Suddenly, the power grid goes out, and the deceased begin to move.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include actor Ewan McGregor, who will receive the festival’s honorary dragon award for career achievement. He will also be in town to...
- 1/9/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Festival selection includes Nikolaj Arcel’s ‘The Promised Land’ and Ernst De Geer’s ‘The Hypnosis’.
Goteborg Film Festival has selected almost 250 films for its 47th edition, including recent Nordic favourites The Promised Land starring Mads Mikkelsen and The Hypnosis by Ernst De Geer.
The festival, which runs from January 26 to February 4, has also programmed events including a talk between Ruben Ostlund and Cannes director Thierry Fremaux; and selected Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen to receive its Nordic Honorary Dragon award.
Scroll down for the list of festival titles
The 10 films competing in the Nordic Competition include Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land,...
Goteborg Film Festival has selected almost 250 films for its 47th edition, including recent Nordic favourites The Promised Land starring Mads Mikkelsen and The Hypnosis by Ernst De Geer.
The festival, which runs from January 26 to February 4, has also programmed events including a talk between Ruben Ostlund and Cannes director Thierry Fremaux; and selected Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen to receive its Nordic Honorary Dragon award.
Scroll down for the list of festival titles
The 10 films competing in the Nordic Competition include Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Actors Ewan McGregor, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, directors Ruben Östlund, Ernst de Geer, Ramata-Toulaye Sy and Cannes Film Festival honcho Thierry Frémaux are some of the stellar guests set to walk the red carpet at the 47th edition of Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival.
This year’s Göteborg Fest unspools from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4.
For his last run as artistic director of Scandinavia’s biggest film festival, Jonas Holmberg has selected 240 films from 82 countries, and what he calls “one of the strongest lineups ever” for Göteborg’s main Nordic competition strand. Among the highly anticipated titles vying for the coveted Best Nordic Film Dragon Award worth Sek 400,000, is Norway’s “Handling the Undead” by Thea Hvistendahl, set to kickstart the festival on the heels of its Sundance world premiere.
“This will be the first time we open with a zombie horror,” notes Holmberg, who looks forward...
This year’s Göteborg Fest unspools from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4.
For his last run as artistic director of Scandinavia’s biggest film festival, Jonas Holmberg has selected 240 films from 82 countries, and what he calls “one of the strongest lineups ever” for Göteborg’s main Nordic competition strand. Among the highly anticipated titles vying for the coveted Best Nordic Film Dragon Award worth Sek 400,000, is Norway’s “Handling the Undead” by Thea Hvistendahl, set to kickstart the festival on the heels of its Sundance world premiere.
“This will be the first time we open with a zombie horror,” notes Holmberg, who looks forward...
- 1/9/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
The Göteborg Film Festival has unveiled the competition titles selected for its 47th edition, which runs from January 26 to February 4. (Scroll down for the full list).
Göteborg is split into four competition strands. The main strand is the Nordic Competition, which features nine films from the Nordic region. The competition’s winner takes home the Dragon Award and a Sek 400,000 cash prize. The rest of the festival comprises the Nordic Documentary Competition, the Ingmar Bergman Competition for first-time filmmakers, and the International Competition.
Among the Nordic highlights is Madame Luna, Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa’s return to Nordic filmmaking following a series of Hollywood titles such as Morbius and Safe House. Inspired by real-life events, the film follows an Eritrean refugee who gets stuck in Libya and becomes a notorious human trafficker known as “Mama Luna” with deep ties to the Italian Mafia. When she is forced to flee to...
Göteborg is split into four competition strands. The main strand is the Nordic Competition, which features nine films from the Nordic region. The competition’s winner takes home the Dragon Award and a Sek 400,000 cash prize. The rest of the festival comprises the Nordic Documentary Competition, the Ingmar Bergman Competition for first-time filmmakers, and the International Competition.
Among the Nordic highlights is Madame Luna, Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa’s return to Nordic filmmaking following a series of Hollywood titles such as Morbius and Safe House. Inspired by real-life events, the film follows an Eritrean refugee who gets stuck in Libya and becomes a notorious human trafficker known as “Mama Luna” with deep ties to the Italian Mafia. When she is forced to flee to...
- 1/9/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Following a couple who are hosting an event to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, director Arne Gjelten’s short film The Best Day of Our Lives takes a turn when one member of the couple reveals that he has no memory of their big day. The brilliance of Gjelten’s tense relationship drama comes in its tone and carefully construed depiction of a contemporary relationship. The soft colour palette, the lack of a score, the carefully constructed dialogue and camerawork. It all feeds into an awkward whirlwind that grips the viewer whilst subtly unpacking societal expectations of relationships and marriage. Dn is delighted to premiere Gjelten’s thought-provoking short alongside a deep dive with the filmmaker where he talks through the film’s inception as a satire, its tonal evolution through the writing phase and the process of nailing its uncomfortable ambience in the edit.
The Best Day of Our Lives,...
The Best Day of Our Lives,...
- 1/9/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
“Beef” sizzled up the 2024 Golden Globes by taking home the award for Best Limited Series.
The Netflix dramedy, which was celebrated at the IndieWire Honors ceremony in December 2023, was among the top critically acclaimed series of the year. Created by Lee Sung Jin, the series centers on two Los Angeles residents, played by Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, who are disgruntled with their vastly different lives. A road rage encounter leads to a long-running obsessive feud to destroy one another, leading to a heightened end.
For the Golden Globes, 10-episode series “Beef” beat out “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “All the Light We Cannot See,” “Fargo,” “Fellow Travelers,” and “Lessons in Chemistry” in the Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television category. Ali Wong won the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series category, and Steven Yeun won for Best Performance by...
The Netflix dramedy, which was celebrated at the IndieWire Honors ceremony in December 2023, was among the top critically acclaimed series of the year. Created by Lee Sung Jin, the series centers on two Los Angeles residents, played by Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, who are disgruntled with their vastly different lives. A road rage encounter leads to a long-running obsessive feud to destroy one another, leading to a heightened end.
For the Golden Globes, 10-episode series “Beef” beat out “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “All the Light We Cannot See,” “Fargo,” “Fellow Travelers,” and “Lessons in Chemistry” in the Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television category. Ali Wong won the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series category, and Steven Yeun won for Best Performance by...
- 1/8/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
RedBird Imi, the media investment firm headed by ex-CNN chief Jeff Zucker, has made an investment in Media Res, the studio behind Apple TV+’s hit series “The Morning Show.”
Financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed. It’s the first investment by RedBird Imi into scripted entertainment. Media Res founder and CEO Michael Ellenberg will retain a majority ownership and continue to run day-to-day operations of the company, while Zucker will take a seat on the board.
Media Res, based in L.A., said it will use the investment to “strike new strategic partnerships” and to continue its mission of “championing artists’ original ideas and sourcing projects from exceptional IP.”
Season 3 of “The Morning Show,” starring and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, last month became the most-watched drama to date on Apple TV+. Media Res’ current slate includes the second season of the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,...
Financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed. It’s the first investment by RedBird Imi into scripted entertainment. Media Res founder and CEO Michael Ellenberg will retain a majority ownership and continue to run day-to-day operations of the company, while Zucker will take a seat on the board.
Media Res, based in L.A., said it will use the investment to “strike new strategic partnerships” and to continue its mission of “championing artists’ original ideas and sourcing projects from exceptional IP.”
Season 3 of “The Morning Show,” starring and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, last month became the most-watched drama to date on Apple TV+. Media Res’ current slate includes the second season of the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,...
- 1/4/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Wes Craven is gone but not forgotten. The soft-spoken horror auteur began his career as an English teacher at Westminster College in the 1960s. But in 1972, he burst onto the film scene with the low-budget shocker "The Last House on the Left." The film's disturbing subject matter alienated many viewers and critics, although some awarded the pic praise. Roger Ebert wrote: "Wes Craven's direction never lets us out from under almost unbearable dramatic tension." Craven found the overall experience negative and wanted to move away from horror movies. However, Craven's scripts outside the horror genre never garnered much interest, and so he returned to the world of horror with 1977's "The Hills Have Eyes." Now firmly established as a horror filmmaker, Craven would continue with the genre for the rest of his career. Craven died in 2015, but his legacy lives on. Below, we've ranked 8 of the filmmaker's best movies.
Read...
Read...
- 1/4/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
They say that one person’s loss is another person’s gain, but cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt had mixed emotions about his recent good fortune in landing the coveted director of photography gig on “May December,” the latest film from Todd Haynes. The director is known for his Oscar-nominated collaborations with longtime colleague Ed Lachman, which include “Carol” and “Far from Heaven.” Lachman, however, suffered a broken hip after a fall while shooting Pablo Larraín’s “El Conde,” and Haynes needed a new set of eyes. So he turned to his filmmaker pal Kelly Reichardt for recommendations, and Blauvelt stepped aboard the darkly comic tale of a tenacious actress, Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), infiltrating the lives of Gracie (Julianne Moore), a Mary Kay Letourneau-esque homemaker and her much younger husband, Joe (Charles Melton), who was 13 when they first got together.
“Kelly and Todd are teachers for me, I learned so much from them,...
“Kelly and Todd are teachers for me, I learned so much from them,...
- 1/3/2024
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
Director Ruben Östlund announced in Cannes that he wanted one of the scenes in his upcoming airplane disaster movie The Entertainment System Is Down to prompt the biggest walkout in the history of cinema.
Seven months on, the Swedish two-time Cannes Palme d’Or winner is getting closer to realizing this ambition having completed the screenplay for the film.
“It’s being translated into English. We’ll be going everywhere for the casting… The aim is to shoot in early 2025,” the director told Deadline at the Les Arcs Film Festival in the French Alps earlier this week.
As previously revealed, the social satire will be set on a long-haul flight which descends into deadly chaos when the inflight entertainment system goes down.
“Modern human beings are used to being able to distract themselves with screens, we’re never bored. Soon after take-off on this long-haul flight – I was thinking something...
Seven months on, the Swedish two-time Cannes Palme d’Or winner is getting closer to realizing this ambition having completed the screenplay for the film.
“It’s being translated into English. We’ll be going everywhere for the casting… The aim is to shoot in early 2025,” the director told Deadline at the Les Arcs Film Festival in the French Alps earlier this week.
As previously revealed, the social satire will be set on a long-haul flight which descends into deadly chaos when the inflight entertainment system goes down.
“Modern human beings are used to being able to distract themselves with screens, we’re never bored. Soon after take-off on this long-haul flight – I was thinking something...
- 12/22/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Cinema professionals from across Europe are gathering in Berlin this weekend for the ceremony of the 36th European Film Awards on Saturday evening.
This younger cousin of Hollywood’s near hundred-year-old Academy Awards is overseen by the Berlin-based European Film Academy.
The body’s 4,600 members – hailing from “geographical Europe” as well as Israel, Palestine and Russia, – vote on an official Academy Selection made up of around 40 films selected by the European Academy Board and a group of experts.
Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves and UK director Jonathan Glazer The Zone Of Interest top the nominations this year, followed by Justine Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall and Poland’s Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border, which won the Venice Special Jury Prize.
Awards for the craft categories were decided by an expert jury and announced ahead of tonight’s ceremony.
The European Film Academy...
This younger cousin of Hollywood’s near hundred-year-old Academy Awards is overseen by the Berlin-based European Film Academy.
The body’s 4,600 members – hailing from “geographical Europe” as well as Israel, Palestine and Russia, – vote on an official Academy Selection made up of around 40 films selected by the European Academy Board and a group of experts.
Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves and UK director Jonathan Glazer The Zone Of Interest top the nominations this year, followed by Justine Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall and Poland’s Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border, which won the Venice Special Jury Prize.
Awards for the craft categories were decided by an expert jury and announced ahead of tonight’s ceremony.
The European Film Academy...
- 12/9/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
May December Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Director: Todd Haynes
What’s Good: Portman and Moore display all their acting power, while Haynes destroys the audience with the heaviest atmosphere.
What’s Bad: The ending feels abrupt, but it will resonate for those catching the symbolism.
Loo Break: Every scene is filled with tension and tragedy; you cannot miss one.
Watch or Not?: Yes! This is one of the best films of the year, and it is right on Netflix.
Language: English
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 117 Minutes
User Rating:
Todd Haynes is one of those directors who might not have a lot of films under their belt, but each of them is a mark of quality that many other directors wish they could reach. The director comes back with a top-of-the-line cast led by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, and on top of that,...
Star Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Director: Todd Haynes
What’s Good: Portman and Moore display all their acting power, while Haynes destroys the audience with the heaviest atmosphere.
What’s Bad: The ending feels abrupt, but it will resonate for those catching the symbolism.
Loo Break: Every scene is filled with tension and tragedy; you cannot miss one.
Watch or Not?: Yes! This is one of the best films of the year, and it is right on Netflix.
Language: English
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 117 Minutes
User Rating:
Todd Haynes is one of those directors who might not have a lot of films under their belt, but each of them is a mark of quality that many other directors wish they could reach. The director comes back with a top-of-the-line cast led by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, and on top of that,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Nelson Acosta
- KoiMoi
On December 6, the 2023 IndieWire Honors ceremony will celebrate 11 filmmakers, creators, and actors for their achievement in creative independence. We’re showcasing their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles event.
When the time came for Lee Sung Jin to explain the tone of his dark-comedy-rage-drama “Beef” to the creative team, the writer, director, and creator of the series was very scientific.
“I tried my best to use as many words as possible to translate what was in my brain to everybody else, and I actually came up in the beginning with this very silly formula,” Lee told IndieWire over Zoom. “I said the tone of ‘Beef’ is 35 percent Paul Thomas Anderson-slash-‘Sopranos’ comedy, where you’re laughing at the broken psychology of people, plus 35 percent ‘White Lotus’ propulsion -slash-Netflix watercooler moments, plus 30 percent Ingmar Bergman-slash-Hirokazu Koreeda warm, melancholic pathos.”
“And I emailed that to everybody.
When the time came for Lee Sung Jin to explain the tone of his dark-comedy-rage-drama “Beef” to the creative team, the writer, director, and creator of the series was very scientific.
“I tried my best to use as many words as possible to translate what was in my brain to everybody else, and I actually came up in the beginning with this very silly formula,” Lee told IndieWire over Zoom. “I said the tone of ‘Beef’ is 35 percent Paul Thomas Anderson-slash-‘Sopranos’ comedy, where you’re laughing at the broken psychology of people, plus 35 percent ‘White Lotus’ propulsion -slash-Netflix watercooler moments, plus 30 percent Ingmar Bergman-slash-Hirokazu Koreeda warm, melancholic pathos.”
“And I emailed that to everybody.
- 12/4/2023
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
Todd Haynes, the visionary director of May December, doesn't seem to understand why people are putting his film in dialogue with tabloid-inspired TV movies. In an interview with Variety's Guy Lodge back in October, Haynes expressed some bemusement that his film was being received as having intentional camp elements or was in conversation with ripped-from-the-headlines movies. Haynes sees the film, premiered this weekend on Netflix, as referencing works like Ingmar Bergman's Persona and Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard. But while those comparisons are certainly apt, May December can't help but evoke those trashy TV movies that sought to cash in on real-life scandals.
- 12/4/2023
- by Joe Reid
- Primetimer
Todd Haynes is, in this writer’s opinion, one of our greatest living filmmakers. Ever since his 1987 film, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, a moving examination of the singer’s battle with anorexia using Barbie dolls and created while he was at Bard College, his unique voice has enraptured audiences. Safe. Velvet Goldmine. Far From Heaven. Carol. The Velvet Underground. There are too many classics to mention.
In his latest film, May December, Haynes has reunited with his muse Julianne Moore for their fifth collaboration over nearly three decades. She plays Gracie Atherton-Yoo,...
In his latest film, May December, Haynes has reunited with his muse Julianne Moore for their fifth collaboration over nearly three decades. She plays Gracie Atherton-Yoo,...
- 12/2/2023
- by Marlow Stern
- Rollingstone.com
Liv Ullmann on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl: “It’s so inspiring to me!” Photo: Ed Bahlman
In the second instalment with Liv Ullmann we discussed her 1973 Best Actress in a Leading Role Academy Award nomination for her performance in Jan Troell’s The Emigrants; writer Tove Ditlevsen; being 13 and also very grown up at the same time; Some Like it Hot on Broadway, starring Christian Borle and J Harrison Ghee and Billy Wilder’s film with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, directing Faithless, screenplay by Ingmar Bergman (starring Lena Endre and Erland Josephson) and forgiving yourself, and being nervous with Laurence Olivier when they starred in A Bridge Too Far, directed by Richard Attenborough.
Liv Ullmann was in New York for two Doc NYC selections, Dheeraj Akolkar’s all-embracing Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled (a highlight of the 14th edition) where Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain,...
In the second instalment with Liv Ullmann we discussed her 1973 Best Actress in a Leading Role Academy Award nomination for her performance in Jan Troell’s The Emigrants; writer Tove Ditlevsen; being 13 and also very grown up at the same time; Some Like it Hot on Broadway, starring Christian Borle and J Harrison Ghee and Billy Wilder’s film with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, directing Faithless, screenplay by Ingmar Bergman (starring Lena Endre and Erland Josephson) and forgiving yourself, and being nervous with Laurence Olivier when they starred in A Bridge Too Far, directed by Richard Attenborough.
Liv Ullmann was in New York for two Doc NYC selections, Dheeraj Akolkar’s all-embracing Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled (a highlight of the 14th edition) where Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain,...
- 11/29/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
When Barbra Streisand’s “Yentl” opened on Nov. 18, 1983, directing was very much a man’s world. In the 1970s, there had been a few inroads for women. Italian director Lina Wertmuller was nominated for best director for 1976’s “Seven Beauties” Stateside, actress Barbara Loden, who was married to Oscar-winning director Elia Kazan, wrote, directed and starred in the acclaimed 1970 indie drama “Wanda,” which won best foreign film at the Venice Film Festival. She never followed up with another movie and died of breast cancer in 1980.
There was also Joan Micklin Silver (“Hester Street”), Claudia Weill (“Girlfriends”), Martha Coolidge (“Not a Pretty Picture”), Joan Tewkesbury (“Old Boyfriends”) and Joan Darling (“First Love”). But those filmmakers ran into brick walls when they tried to set up projects with the major studios. The late Silver told Vanity Fair in 2021 that a studio executive didn’t mince his word: “Feature films are expensive to make and expensive to market,...
There was also Joan Micklin Silver (“Hester Street”), Claudia Weill (“Girlfriends”), Martha Coolidge (“Not a Pretty Picture”), Joan Tewkesbury (“Old Boyfriends”) and Joan Darling (“First Love”). But those filmmakers ran into brick walls when they tried to set up projects with the major studios. The late Silver told Vanity Fair in 2021 that a studio executive didn’t mince his word: “Feature films are expensive to make and expensive to market,...
- 11/19/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Lena Endre, Jeremy Irons, Sam Waterston, and John Lithgow all pay tribute with great admiration for Liv Ullmann in Dheeraj Akolkar’s all-embracing Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled. Photo: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen, courtesy of Teddy TV
In the first instalment with Liv Ullmann on Dheeraj Akolkar’s Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled (a highlight of the 14th edition of Doc NYC), we start out with greetings from Wim Wenders (Liv’s executive producer partner on Margreth Olin’s Songs Of Earth), whose film Anselm in 3D on Anselm Kiefer is the Special Presentation selection.
Jeremy Irons on Liv Ullmann: “To lend one’s voice to the voiceless can be quite powerful. I think we are alike in that life is what we’re here for.” On Liv receiving an Honorary Oscar in 2022: “She is a jewel.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl...
In the first instalment with Liv Ullmann on Dheeraj Akolkar’s Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled (a highlight of the 14th edition of Doc NYC), we start out with greetings from Wim Wenders (Liv’s executive producer partner on Margreth Olin’s Songs Of Earth), whose film Anselm in 3D on Anselm Kiefer is the Special Presentation selection.
Jeremy Irons on Liv Ullmann: “To lend one’s voice to the voiceless can be quite powerful. I think we are alike in that life is what we’re here for.” On Liv receiving an Honorary Oscar in 2022: “She is a jewel.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl...
- 11/18/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The melancholic, ethereal imagery of Kyryl Volovych has embedded itself in Dn’s mind since we saw his emotive music video for Entely’s Prosa earlier this year. So it’s an absolute delight to be featuring him once more, this time for his visualisation of Brighton-based psychedelic rock outfit ĠENN’s The Sister Of. A time-bending narrative of sorts, the story follows a young woman who ventures across dimensions before stumbling into a lone castle where time has frozen. It’s a really fascinating video that recalls the work of Tarkovsky or Bergman in its depiction of a bleak reality that features moments of surrealism and science fiction. Dn caught up with Volovych and his Dp Borya Borysov to talk over how they got in contact with ĠENN through Dn’s social channels, why they kept their fingers crossed for a lack of light when shooting, and the shared...
- 11/16/2023
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
If a legend like Liv Ullman can have imposter syndrome, what does it mean for the rest of us mere mortals? Throughout Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled, it’s Ullman herself who reflects on the past and reveals that which she is willing to reveal from her illustrious career. A feeling she often returns to is that of being unworthy, too inexperienced, and not ready. While it may seem ridiculous coming from the Norwegian actress/director/activist, it’s not. Liv Ullman lives with endless doubt, as we all do. She’s just overcome it a bit better than most.
From her fast start with Ingmar Bergman (beginning with Persona in 1966) to her first autobiography Changing to her accomplished career as a director, Dheeraj Akolkar’s film is a testament to resilience and growth. Including clips from some of her best work and commentary from friends and colleagues, the energy is decidedly positive.
From her fast start with Ingmar Bergman (beginning with Persona in 1966) to her first autobiography Changing to her accomplished career as a director, Dheeraj Akolkar’s film is a testament to resilience and growth. Including clips from some of her best work and commentary from friends and colleagues, the energy is decidedly positive.
- 11/16/2023
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Above: 1963 German re-release poster by Heinz Edelmann for Kind Hearts and Coronets.If you are near Berlin during the next four months there is a movie poster exhibition that you must not miss. It opens today at the Kulturforum and it is called Grosses Kino: Filmplakate aller Zeiten, which translates as The Big Screen: Film Posters of All Time.Grosses Kino has been curated by Dr. Christina Thomson and Christina Dembny of the Kunstbibliothek, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (the Art Library at the Berlin State Museum) in collaboration with the Berlin International Film Festival and the Deutsche Kinemathek. The Kunstbibliothek has an extraordinary collection of over 5,000 film posters, 300 of which—dating from 1905 to 2023—have been selected for the exhibition. Earlier this year I was asked to be one of 26 “film industry experts” from the fields of acting, directing, cinema management, film studies, art, and graphic design selected to choose one...
- 11/8/2023
- MUBI
The 1994 horror movie "Wes Craven's New Nightmare" was the seventh film in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series, and featured one of the cleverest conceits for a horror sequel. The vicious supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger — able to kill his victims from inside their dreams — somehow escaped the surly bounds of fiction and began stalking the actors and filmmakers who made the original "The Nightmare on Elm Street" a decade prior. Heather Langenkamp appears as herself, as does Robert Englund, John Saxon, Craven, and New Line Cinema bigwig Robert Shaye. Langenkamp did have a young child in 1994 — her late son Daniel Atticus Anderson was born in 1991 — but in the movie, Langenkamp's child was named Jacob and played by actor Miko Hughes.
Prior to "New Nightmare," the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series had become increasingly outlandish and cartoony. Freddy was no longer a menacing murderer, but a comedic supervillain who dispatched his victims in creative,...
Prior to "New Nightmare," the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series had become increasingly outlandish and cartoony. Freddy was no longer a menacing murderer, but a comedic supervillain who dispatched his victims in creative,...
- 10/30/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
After 100 years of making animated film musicals about talking animals, princesses, classic literary characters, superheroes, and even space pirates, there's not a whole lot of ground that Disney has never covered before. With the upcoming "Wish," however, the House of Mouse will ring in its centennial by focusing on the very idea of wishes. It's a motif that's appeared time and time again in the studio's work, yet it's rarely interrogated. What even is a "wish," really? Who decides which wishes come true and which ones do not? And if wishes can change the course of one's life, what does that even mean for those whose greatest wishes are never granted? It's a real existential conundrum, the further you go down this rabbit hole.
No doubt, you'll be shocked to learn that Disney hasn't fashioned "Wish" as an Ingmar Bergman-esque rumination on these questions and what they say about the human condition.
No doubt, you'll be shocked to learn that Disney hasn't fashioned "Wish" as an Ingmar Bergman-esque rumination on these questions and what they say about the human condition.
- 10/27/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Boutique distributor Juno Films has acquired North American and UK rights to Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Traveled, a portrait of the iconic Norwegian actress and filmmaker from director Dheeraj Akolkar (Liv & Ingmar). World premiering in the Classics section of the 76th Festival de Cannes, the doc will make its North American debut at Doc NYC ahead of a spring 2024 launch in theaters.
Best known as the muse and one-time romantic partner of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, Ullmann performed in films of his including Persona, Cries and Whispers, Scenes from a Marriage, The Passion of Anna, and Autumn Sonata, among others. She received an Honorary Oscar in 2022, after scoring noms for The Emigrants and Face to Face, and has also helmed titles like Faithless and the Jessica Chastain starrer Miss Julie. Alongside her career in the arts is a run in philanthropy that’s seen her serve as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador,...
Best known as the muse and one-time romantic partner of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, Ullmann performed in films of his including Persona, Cries and Whispers, Scenes from a Marriage, The Passion of Anna, and Autumn Sonata, among others. She received an Honorary Oscar in 2022, after scoring noms for The Emigrants and Face to Face, and has also helmed titles like Faithless and the Jessica Chastain starrer Miss Julie. Alongside her career in the arts is a run in philanthropy that’s seen her serve as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.