Despite its visual appeal, the characters in Czech animator Michaela Pavlátová’s clash-of-values family drama struggle to get past sorrowful stereotypes
Post-Taliban Kabul is seen through the eyes of a Czech bride in this new film from acclaimed animation director Michaela Pavlátová, who was Oscar nominated in 1993 for her short film Words Words Words. Adapted from a novel by war journalist Petra Procházková, the Golden Globe-nominated film boasts striking visuals, but lacks the kind of emotional authenticity that would elevate it beyond a sob story.
When Herra meets Nazir during their university days in the Czech Republic, it is love at first sight. Their relationship leads Herra to Afghanistan where the pair marry and live with Nazir’s family. The culture shock comes swift: Herra has a difficult time adjusting to her stay-at-home existence and the harassment that she endures as a western woman in Kabul. While Nazir’s grandfather is liberal and understanding,...
Post-Taliban Kabul is seen through the eyes of a Czech bride in this new film from acclaimed animation director Michaela Pavlátová, who was Oscar nominated in 1993 for her short film Words Words Words. Adapted from a novel by war journalist Petra Procházková, the Golden Globe-nominated film boasts striking visuals, but lacks the kind of emotional authenticity that would elevate it beyond a sob story.
When Herra meets Nazir during their university days in the Czech Republic, it is love at first sight. Their relationship leads Herra to Afghanistan where the pair marry and live with Nazir’s family. The culture shock comes swift: Herra has a difficult time adjusting to her stay-at-home existence and the harassment that she endures as a western woman in Kabul. While Nazir’s grandfather is liberal and understanding,...
- 9/26/2022
- by Phuong Le
- The Guardian - Film News
The Croatian film and TV sector is expected to get a financial boost of more than 5 million Hrk from international streaming platforms through the Croatian Electronic Media Act, which came into effect in October 2021, the Croatian Audiovisual Center (Havc) has told Film New Europe.
Netflix is expected to participate with 3 million Hrk and other contributors will include HBO Max, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
According to the new law, streamers will have to invest 2 of their revenues generated in Croatia in local production or acquisition. Network operators will invest 10 of the revenue generated by their own services. Private broadcasters will set aside 5 percent of their annual revenue for independent productions in Croatia.
“With our new law, we have introduced a series of interlinked measures to promote independent production in Croatia. The law is not prescriptive as to how the new funds will be invested. Sure there was resistance as the law was taking shape,...
Netflix is expected to participate with 3 million Hrk and other contributors will include HBO Max, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
According to the new law, streamers will have to invest 2 of their revenues generated in Croatia in local production or acquisition. Network operators will invest 10 of the revenue generated by their own services. Private broadcasters will set aside 5 percent of their annual revenue for independent productions in Croatia.
“With our new law, we have introduced a series of interlinked measures to promote independent production in Croatia. The law is not prescriptive as to how the new funds will be invested. Sure there was resistance as the law was taking shape,...
- 6/13/2022
- by Milena Zajović
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s high-tech world, there are as many ways to make an animated film as there are film genres. Each year’s top animated features span everything from family fare to real-life documentaries and everything in between, and today’s animation directors have as many, or as few, tools at their disposal to tell their stories as they want.
For Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” a comedy about a dysfunctional family battling a robot apocalypse, directors Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe saw the irony in using top-notch tools to tell a cautionary tale about technology.
“We were making a movie about technology and the only way we could contact our mom or see our friends was over the computer,” says Rianda of working during the pandemic lockdown. “It’s a wonderful time for animation right now. I would love to see people from all walks of life telling stories.
For Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” a comedy about a dysfunctional family battling a robot apocalypse, directors Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe saw the irony in using top-notch tools to tell a cautionary tale about technology.
“We were making a movie about technology and the only way we could contact our mom or see our friends was over the computer,” says Rianda of working during the pandemic lockdown. “It’s a wonderful time for animation right now. I would love to see people from all walks of life telling stories.
- 1/29/2022
- by Paul Plunkett
- Variety Film + TV
A Czech woman married into a working-class Afghan family provides a nuanced perspective on life in Kabul in the interregnum between Taliban rule in the animated drama “My Sunny Maad,” from director Michaela Pavlátová. Based on a novel by the Czech investigative journalist Petra Procházková, it sensitively portrays the complex environment of Kabul in the second decade of the 21st century. And it feels eerily prescient in the way it captures the ambivalent feelings expressed by many Afghanis toward the West. Current events in Afghanistan as well as the surge of interest in the Danish animated film “Flee” should spark extra desire to see this strong, humanistic film, which nabbed the jury prize in Annecy.
From the opening moments in which the film enters the window of an Afghan house, we see things through the point of view and savvy narration of blond, gray-eyed Herra (voiced by Zuzana Stivínová). She...
From the opening moments in which the film enters the window of an Afghan house, we see things through the point of view and savvy narration of blond, gray-eyed Herra (voiced by Zuzana Stivínová). She...
- 12/14/2021
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Paris-based international sales and production company Totem Films has added Gábor Fabricius’ “Erasing Frank” to its Cannes market lineup.
Set in 1983, behind the Iron Curtain of Eastern Europe in Budapest, the film follows Frank, the charismatic singer of a banned punk band that carries the voice of their generation against a totalitarian regime. Taken to the police psychiatric hospital in an attempt to silence him, Frank will sacrifice everything to resist.
The film is produced by Otherside Stories and supported by the National Film Institute Hungary.
Fabricius, a graduate of Central Saint-Martins College London, has published two novels and directed several shorts. “Erasing Frank” is his debut feature.
“‘Erasing Frank’ is an attempt to redefine direct cinema and social drama. I want to let the audience go through raw experience in a deshumanized Orwellian reality,” said Fabricius.
“Gabor’s mise en scene is flawless. He depicts the rage of a...
Set in 1983, behind the Iron Curtain of Eastern Europe in Budapest, the film follows Frank, the charismatic singer of a banned punk band that carries the voice of their generation against a totalitarian regime. Taken to the police psychiatric hospital in an attempt to silence him, Frank will sacrifice everything to resist.
The film is produced by Otherside Stories and supported by the National Film Institute Hungary.
Fabricius, a graduate of Central Saint-Martins College London, has published two novels and directed several shorts. “Erasing Frank” is his debut feature.
“‘Erasing Frank’ is an attempt to redefine direct cinema and social drama. I want to let the audience go through raw experience in a deshumanized Orwellian reality,” said Fabricius.
“Gabor’s mise en scene is flawless. He depicts the rage of a...
- 7/2/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
World premieres include UK drama ‘Boiling Point’, starring Stephen Graham.
Philip Barantini’s UK drama Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham, and Dietrich Brüggemann’s No are among the films making their world premiere in competition at this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (August 20-28).
All 12 main competition titles are world premieres except Claudio Cupellini’s Italian drama The Land of The Sons, which is an international premiere.
Scroll down for full list
Filmed in one take, Boiling Point sees Graham plays a stressed head chef on the busiest night of the year at one of London’s top restaurants.
Philip Barantini’s UK drama Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham, and Dietrich Brüggemann’s No are among the films making their world premiere in competition at this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (August 20-28).
All 12 main competition titles are world premieres except Claudio Cupellini’s Italian drama The Land of The Sons, which is an international premiere.
Scroll down for full list
Filmed in one take, Boiling Point sees Graham plays a stressed head chef on the busiest night of the year at one of London’s top restaurants.
- 6/29/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The official selection of the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has been revealed, featuring 32 premieres. Scroll down for the full list of titles.
The fest will open with Zatopek, David Ondříček’s feature about four-time Olympic gold medalist, the runner Emil Zátopek, who is widely regarded as the most popular athlete in Czech Republic’s history. The film will premiere on August 20, 2021 in the Hotel Thermal Grand Hall at the opening night gala. Also screening is Boiling Point, the drama about a restaurant chef starring Stephen Graham.
A retrospective will take place dedicated to the work of The Film Foundation, Martin Scorsese’s non-profit organization established in 1990 dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history, restoring to date more than 900 classic works of cinema. A total of 10 films will be screened at the fest.
In addition to today’s program announcement, a selection of non-competitive strands, featuring notable...
The fest will open with Zatopek, David Ondříček’s feature about four-time Olympic gold medalist, the runner Emil Zátopek, who is widely regarded as the most popular athlete in Czech Republic’s history. The film will premiere on August 20, 2021 in the Hotel Thermal Grand Hall at the opening night gala. Also screening is Boiling Point, the drama about a restaurant chef starring Stephen Graham.
A retrospective will take place dedicated to the work of The Film Foundation, Martin Scorsese’s non-profit organization established in 1990 dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history, restoring to date more than 900 classic works of cinema. A total of 10 films will be screened at the fest.
In addition to today’s program announcement, a selection of non-competitive strands, featuring notable...
- 6/29/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Annency International Animation Film Festival announced Saturday evening the winners of its major awards.
Flee, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s hand-drawn animation telling the true story of a man’s extraordinary journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan, won top honors by nabbing the Annency Cristal for a feature film. Deadline’s Todd McCarthy said Rasmussen “puts you through it in a way that illustrates, instructs, makes you look inward and ask whether you’d have what it takes, if you could tough it out and survive in a cold, hostile world.”
Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will voice the lead roles in an English language version of the film, which will debut later this year, and the pair are also executive producers on the pic.
My Sunny Maad, the debut feature of Oscar-nominated director Michaela Pavlátová, won this year’s Jury Award. The film follows a young Czech woman...
Flee, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s hand-drawn animation telling the true story of a man’s extraordinary journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan, won top honors by nabbing the Annency Cristal for a feature film. Deadline’s Todd McCarthy said Rasmussen “puts you through it in a way that illustrates, instructs, makes you look inward and ask whether you’d have what it takes, if you could tough it out and survive in a cold, hostile world.”
Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will voice the lead roles in an English language version of the film, which will debut later this year, and the pair are also executive producers on the pic.
My Sunny Maad, the debut feature of Oscar-nominated director Michaela Pavlátová, won this year’s Jury Award. The film follows a young Czech woman...
- 6/19/2021
- by Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
On Saturday evening, after a week of onsite and virtual screenings, conferences, masterclasses and panels, the Annecy Animation Festival announced the winners of its major prizes, joining the already announced Special Prizes from the night before.
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s “Flee” continued its winning form from the previous evening – it won best original music from a feature – taking both the Cristal for a Feature Film, the festival’s top prize, and the Gan Foundation Award for distribution.
A World Cinema Grand Jury Award-winner at Sundance and best Nordic documentary winner at Göteborg, “Flee” was described by Variety’s Peter Debruge as a “sophisticated refugee story.” “Flee” is the true story of Amin, about to get married, who decides to share his hidden past, a secret he has been hiding for over 20 years which threatens to ruin the life he has built since. In the film Amin tells the story of...
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s “Flee” continued its winning form from the previous evening – it won best original music from a feature – taking both the Cristal for a Feature Film, the festival’s top prize, and the Gan Foundation Award for distribution.
A World Cinema Grand Jury Award-winner at Sundance and best Nordic documentary winner at Göteborg, “Flee” was described by Variety’s Peter Debruge as a “sophisticated refugee story.” “Flee” is the true story of Amin, about to get married, who decides to share his hidden past, a secret he has been hiding for over 20 years which threatens to ruin the life he has built since. In the film Amin tells the story of...
- 6/19/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The feature animation revolves around a Czech woman who falls in love with an Afghan man and then follows him to post-Taliban Afghanistan.
Screen can exclusively reveal the first trailer for Czech director Michaela Pavlátová’s My Sunny Maad, which is due to world premiere in the main feature competition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 14-19).
Paris-based company Totem Films is handling international sales on the animation about a Czech woman who falls in love with an Afghan man and then follows him to post-Taliban Afghanistan, where she has no idea of the life that awaits her...
Screen can exclusively reveal the first trailer for Czech director Michaela Pavlátová’s My Sunny Maad, which is due to world premiere in the main feature competition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 14-19).
Paris-based company Totem Films is handling international sales on the animation about a Czech woman who falls in love with an Afghan man and then follows him to post-Taliban Afghanistan, where she has no idea of the life that awaits her...
- 6/10/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
“Pearl Diver” by Norway’s Margrethe Danielsen has swept Spain’s 16th Animayo Gran Canaria Festival awards, making off with the International Grand Jury Prize as well as plaudits for best student short film, stop motion and comedy for adults.
“Pearl Diver” follows three odd couples: a hedgehog that falls in love with a balloon, two oysters anxious to meet; and an Arctic couple drifting apart.
The stop-motion animated short was produced at Volda University College and has already won a string of awards worldwide. Aside from scooping a cash prize of €3,000 and a trophy, “Pearl Diver” qualifies to compete for the Academy Award’s short list of qualifying animated shorts.
Italy’s “Where Night Falls” by Francesco Filippini nabbed the best 3D, best comedy for all ages and best screenplay awards. The short revolves around a boy and his grandmother as they set off on a shamanic journey to discover their roots.
“Pearl Diver” follows three odd couples: a hedgehog that falls in love with a balloon, two oysters anxious to meet; and an Arctic couple drifting apart.
The stop-motion animated short was produced at Volda University College and has already won a string of awards worldwide. Aside from scooping a cash prize of €3,000 and a trophy, “Pearl Diver” qualifies to compete for the Academy Award’s short list of qualifying animated shorts.
Italy’s “Where Night Falls” by Francesco Filippini nabbed the best 3D, best comedy for all ages and best screenplay awards. The short revolves around a boy and his grandmother as they set off on a shamanic journey to discover their roots.
- 6/7/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Diaphana Distribution has acquired French rights for the film and is planning a release for the first quarter of 2022.
Diaphana Distribution has acquired French rights to Czech director Michaela Pavlátová’s My Sunny Maad, which is due to world premiere in the Annecy International Film Festival’s main feature competition this June.
The respected French distributor has a strong track record in feature animations, having previously released Phantom Boy, Long Way North and Mary And The Witch’s Flower. It plans to release the film in France in the first quarter of 2022.
My Sunny Maad revolves around a Czech woman who...
Diaphana Distribution has acquired French rights to Czech director Michaela Pavlátová’s My Sunny Maad, which is due to world premiere in the Annecy International Film Festival’s main feature competition this June.
The respected French distributor has a strong track record in feature animations, having previously released Phantom Boy, Long Way North and Mary And The Witch’s Flower. It plans to release the film in France in the first quarter of 2022.
My Sunny Maad revolves around a Czech woman who...
- 5/21/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Recent winners of prestigious Critstal award include I Lost My Body and My Life As A Courgette.
The Annecy International Film Festival has unveiled its main feature competition selections for its upcoming hybrid edition which is due to take place from June 14 to 19 in its lakeside home at the foot of the French Alps.
Danish-French filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee and Netflix-acquired adult rom-com You Animal! by Philippine director Avid Liongoren will be among 10 titles competing in the main feature competition for the Cristal award.
The tale of an Afghan man forced to escape his homeland and Mujahadeen as a child,...
The Annecy International Film Festival has unveiled its main feature competition selections for its upcoming hybrid edition which is due to take place from June 14 to 19 in its lakeside home at the foot of the French Alps.
Danish-French filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee and Netflix-acquired adult rom-com You Animal! by Philippine director Avid Liongoren will be among 10 titles competing in the main feature competition for the Cristal award.
The tale of an Afghan man forced to escape his homeland and Mujahadeen as a child,...
- 5/21/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Heading into its 60th anniversary, France’s Annecy Festival long ago established itself as one of the world’s most important animation events, but this year it holds the added distinction of being one of the first major international festivals in Europe to return to an at least part in-person format. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 5,000 attendees Annecy CEO Mickaël Marin explained on Thursday evening, as Annecy announced its 2021 program.
Included in the evening’s announcements were masterclasses, keynote speeches, sneak peeks and its highly anticipated feature film lineups, boasting a strong mix of previous award-winning films and several box office hits, as well as a number of French, European and world premieres. This year’s online offering will look and function much like last years, although Marin is confident that the very few bugs from the first time around will be ironed out this year. Online...
Included in the evening’s announcements were masterclasses, keynote speeches, sneak peeks and its highly anticipated feature film lineups, boasting a strong mix of previous award-winning films and several box office hits, as well as a number of French, European and world premieres. This year’s online offering will look and function much like last years, although Marin is confident that the very few bugs from the first time around will be ironed out this year. Online...
- 5/20/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Projects include Toei Animation’s The Lost Titan (working title) in collaboration with John A. Davis.
Tiffcom, the film and TV market accompanying Tokyo International Film Festival, has announced the 20 projects selected for the first edition of its Tokyo Gap Financing Market (Tgfm), which is scheduled to run online November 4-6.
The selection includes 14 feature-length projects, four of which are animations, and six TV series projects, including three animations. Female producers are involved in 11 of the projects, which have a total budget volume of around $3m, with an average 66% of financing secured.
Projects include Toei Animation’s The Lost Titan...
Tiffcom, the film and TV market accompanying Tokyo International Film Festival, has announced the 20 projects selected for the first edition of its Tokyo Gap Financing Market (Tgfm), which is scheduled to run online November 4-6.
The selection includes 14 feature-length projects, four of which are animations, and six TV series projects, including three animations. Female producers are involved in 11 of the projects, which have a total budget volume of around $3m, with an average 66% of financing secured.
Projects include Toei Animation’s The Lost Titan...
- 10/5/2020
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Getting Ready For Departure: 8 Days To Go!
In times when Ibiza seems further away than ever and, in the interest of the environment and ourselves, flying should be avoided anyway, Vienna Shorts offers you virtual excursions and expeditions as an alternative to geographically distant destinations: In only 8 days the 17th edition of Vienna Shorts will start – online and completely touch-free, with a renewed program structure and maybe an opportunity for well-tempered escapism or two! The complete travel guide is now available on the official website, the ticket to ride is also available from today. Pack your shorts, you’re off to a sea of tulips!
© Spring Break (Total Refusal)
Festivaltrailer 2020: A Digital Spring Break
We have shed our shyness about virtual space and its (so far) unlit corners – but the festival trailer by the Austrian artists’ collective Total Refusal will make you doubt again what awaits us beyond the digital tulip field.
In times when Ibiza seems further away than ever and, in the interest of the environment and ourselves, flying should be avoided anyway, Vienna Shorts offers you virtual excursions and expeditions as an alternative to geographically distant destinations: In only 8 days the 17th edition of Vienna Shorts will start – online and completely touch-free, with a renewed program structure and maybe an opportunity for well-tempered escapism or two! The complete travel guide is now available on the official website, the ticket to ride is also available from today. Pack your shorts, you’re off to a sea of tulips!
© Spring Break (Total Refusal)
Festivaltrailer 2020: A Digital Spring Break
We have shed our shyness about virtual space and its (so far) unlit corners – but the festival trailer by the Austrian artists’ collective Total Refusal will make you doubt again what awaits us beyond the digital tulip field.
- 5/20/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Company heads to debut Unifrance Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris and Sundance after fruitful first year.
Paris-based sales company Totem Films is moving into co-production and has expanded its team with the hire of emerging producer Elsa Payen as part of the strategy.
Payen, who recently completed the pan-European, post-graduate Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris course, has worked on a number of high-profile international productions over the last five years, including Ford v Ferrari, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Sense8 and Dunkirk.
Totem’s move into production comes just over a year after sales agents Agathe Valentin, Bérénice Vincent and...
Paris-based sales company Totem Films is moving into co-production and has expanded its team with the hire of emerging producer Elsa Payen as part of the strategy.
Payen, who recently completed the pan-European, post-graduate Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris course, has worked on a number of high-profile international productions over the last five years, including Ford v Ferrari, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Sense8 and Dunkirk.
Totem’s move into production comes just over a year after sales agents Agathe Valentin, Bérénice Vincent and...
- 1/16/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
A team of more than 30 animators from three countries is working on the movie, which is being directed by Michaela Pavlátová. Czech director Michaela Pavlátová is currently on the island of Réunion, where animation work on her feature-length animated debut, My Sunny Maad, has recently begun. Animators at Studio Alkay in Prague are also already working on the project. The story is based on the book Freshta by Petra Procházková, a Czech investigative journalist and war reporter, which is described as a hard-hitting portrayal of Afghan women’s struggle for emancipation during the post-Taliban period. Screenwriter and script consultant Ivan Arsenjev adapted the story for the script; French script consultant and director Jean Charles Finck then worked on the script with Pavlátová. The story follows a Czech woman called Herra, who moves with her partner, the Afghan man Nazir, to his hometown of Kabul. They adopt...
- 10/10/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Zbanic’s upcoming drama about a family trapped in war-torn Srebrenica, Polish director Agnieszka Holland’s postwar film chronicling the rise and fall of a mysterious Czech healer, and Luxembourg helmer Jacques Molitor’s tale of a wealthy and bloodthirsty clan of wine-growing lycanthropes are among the projects taking part in this year’s Venice Gap-Financing Market.
The 6th edition of the market section, which runs during the Venice Film Festival from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, presents 51 international projects in the final stages of development and funding, including 28 feature films and documentaries.
Among the projects selected for the market, part of the Venice Production Bridge program, is Zbanic’s tentatively titled European co-production “Quo Vadis Aida.” In the film, the director of the Golden Bear-winning “Grbavica” revisits the horrors of the Bosnian War in a story about a family trapped in Srebrenica during the city’s occupation by Serb forces.
The 6th edition of the market section, which runs during the Venice Film Festival from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, presents 51 international projects in the final stages of development and funding, including 28 feature films and documentaries.
Among the projects selected for the market, part of the Venice Production Bridge program, is Zbanic’s tentatively titled European co-production “Quo Vadis Aida.” In the film, the director of the Golden Bear-winning “Grbavica” revisits the horrors of the Bosnian War in a story about a family trapped in Srebrenica during the city’s occupation by Serb forces.
- 8/30/2019
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Holland’s upcoming feature Charlatan among 51 headed to the Lido.
This year’s Venice Gap-Financing Market, returning for its sixth edition in 2019, has named the 51 projects that will participate across its four strands.
There are 28 features, fiction and documentaries, heading to the Lido this year. Among them is Agnieszka Holland’s upcoming feature Charlatan (Sarlatan), which is being produced by Czech outfit Marlene Film in co-production with Film & Music Entertainment (F&me)’s Irish outpost and Slovakia’s Furia Film.
The project is based on the life of Jan Mikolášek, a Czech healer who lived in totalitarian 1950s Czechoslovakia. Films Boutique is handling sales.
This year’s Venice Gap-Financing Market, returning for its sixth edition in 2019, has named the 51 projects that will participate across its four strands.
There are 28 features, fiction and documentaries, heading to the Lido this year. Among them is Agnieszka Holland’s upcoming feature Charlatan (Sarlatan), which is being produced by Czech outfit Marlene Film in co-production with Film & Music Entertainment (F&me)’s Irish outpost and Slovakia’s Furia Film.
The project is based on the life of Jan Mikolášek, a Czech healer who lived in totalitarian 1950s Czechoslovakia. Films Boutique is handling sales.
- 7/2/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
The sixth edition of the Venice Gap-Financing Market (August 30 – September 1), which takes place during the Venice Film Festival, will feature 51 projects in the final stages of development and funding.
Of those, 23 projects from Europe and beyond are narrative features with 70% funding in place. Five projects are documentaries.
Among highlights are Czech feature Sarlatan by Oscar-nominated Polish director Agnieszka Holland (Mr. Jones) about a man gifted with exceptional abilities set against the background of the events of the totalitarian ’50s; Russian film Air by Dovlatov director Alexey German Jr; Grbavica director Jasmila Zbanic’s Euro co-pro Quo Vadis Aida (working title); and Canadian pic Saint-Narcisse by Bruce La Bruce.
Here’s a full list of projects taking part in the market:
28 Selected Fiction And Documentary Projects
Air (Russia) by Alexey German Jr., SAGa, Metrafilms Alam (France, Lebanon, Belgium) by Firas Khoury, Mpm Film A la sombra de los árboles (Chile) by Matías Rojas Valencia,...
Of those, 23 projects from Europe and beyond are narrative features with 70% funding in place. Five projects are documentaries.
Among highlights are Czech feature Sarlatan by Oscar-nominated Polish director Agnieszka Holland (Mr. Jones) about a man gifted with exceptional abilities set against the background of the events of the totalitarian ’50s; Russian film Air by Dovlatov director Alexey German Jr; Grbavica director Jasmila Zbanic’s Euro co-pro Quo Vadis Aida (working title); and Canadian pic Saint-Narcisse by Bruce La Bruce.
Here’s a full list of projects taking part in the market:
28 Selected Fiction And Documentary Projects
Air (Russia) by Alexey German Jr., SAGa, Metrafilms Alam (France, Lebanon, Belgium) by Firas Khoury, Mpm Film A la sombra de los árboles (Chile) by Matías Rojas Valencia,...
- 7/2/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Naomi Kawase, Michael R Roskam, Noomi Rapace among attendees.
Danish drama Key House Mirror, directed by Michael Noer (R), will open the 2015 edition of the Göteborg Film Festival (Jan 23 - Feb 2).
Ghita Nørby and Sven Wollter play the lead roles in the drama about an elderly woman who strikes up an unexpected relationship with a fellow care-home resident.
Jorn Donner’s docu-biopic of Finnish designer Armi Ranta, Armi Alive!, will close the festival.
Eight Nordic films will compete for the $125,000 Nordic prize with this year’s jury comprising directors Pernille Fischer Christensen, Pirjo Honkasalo, Anja Breienand Benedikt Erlingsson, as well as actress Maryam Moghaddam.
The nominees are:
Key House Mirror by Michael NoerMy Skinny Sister by Sanna LenkenIn Your Arms by Samanou Acheche SahlstrømParis of the North by Hafsteinn Gunnar SigurðssonThey Have Escaped by Jukka-Pekka ValkeapääHomesick by Anne SewitskyUnderdog by Ronnie SandahlWomen in Oversized Men’s Shirts by Yngvild Sve FlikkeDebut prize
The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award...
Danish drama Key House Mirror, directed by Michael Noer (R), will open the 2015 edition of the Göteborg Film Festival (Jan 23 - Feb 2).
Ghita Nørby and Sven Wollter play the lead roles in the drama about an elderly woman who strikes up an unexpected relationship with a fellow care-home resident.
Jorn Donner’s docu-biopic of Finnish designer Armi Ranta, Armi Alive!, will close the festival.
Eight Nordic films will compete for the $125,000 Nordic prize with this year’s jury comprising directors Pernille Fischer Christensen, Pirjo Honkasalo, Anja Breienand Benedikt Erlingsson, as well as actress Maryam Moghaddam.
The nominees are:
Key House Mirror by Michael NoerMy Skinny Sister by Sanna LenkenIn Your Arms by Samanou Acheche SahlstrømParis of the North by Hafsteinn Gunnar SigurðssonThey Have Escaped by Jukka-Pekka ValkeapääHomesick by Anne SewitskyUnderdog by Ronnie SandahlWomen in Oversized Men’s Shirts by Yngvild Sve FlikkeDebut prize
The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award...
- 1/8/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Here is a complete listing of the films that were shown/covered by the Ioncinema.com team comprised of Nicholas Bell (Nb), Jordan M. Smith (Js) and Eric Lavallee (El). We’ll be populating this page up until March.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Afternoon Delight – Jill Soloway: Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Ain’T Them Bodies Saints – David Lowery: El (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review // Interview
Austenland- Jerusha Hess: Nb (★): Review
C.O.G.- Kyle Patrick Alvarez: Js (★★ 1/2), Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Concussion – Stacie Passon: El (★★★), Js (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★): Review // Interview
Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes – Francesca Gregorini: Js (★★★), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review
Fruitvale – Ryan Coogler: El (★★★), Js (★★★★★), Nb (★★★★): Review // Interview // Video
In A World… – Lake Bell: El (★★★): Review
Kill Your Darlings – John Krokidas: El (★★★), Nb (★★★): Review
The Lifeguard – Liz W. Garcia: El (★★ 1/2): Review
May In The Summer...
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Afternoon Delight – Jill Soloway: Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Ain’T Them Bodies Saints – David Lowery: El (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review // Interview
Austenland- Jerusha Hess: Nb (★): Review
C.O.G.- Kyle Patrick Alvarez: Js (★★ 1/2), Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Concussion – Stacie Passon: El (★★★), Js (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★): Review // Interview
Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes – Francesca Gregorini: Js (★★★), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review
Fruitvale – Ryan Coogler: El (★★★), Js (★★★★★), Nb (★★★★): Review // Interview // Video
In A World… – Lake Bell: El (★★★): Review
Kill Your Darlings – John Krokidas: El (★★★), Nb (★★★): Review
The Lifeguard – Liz W. Garcia: El (★★ 1/2): Review
May In The Summer...
- 1/29/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Vol. I Issue 4
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Directed by Alex Gibney
In Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Oscar®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney examines the abuse of power in the Catholic Church through the story of four courageous deaf men who, in the first known case of public protest, set out to expose the priest who abused them. The film follows a cover-up that winds its way from the row houses of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare ruined choirs of Ireland's churches, all the way to the highest office of the Vatican.
Like Woodward and Bernstein covering the story of Watergate, Gibney uses the keyhole of the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the Us to show that the Pope knew (or should have known) that there is wide spread child abuse within the ranks of Catholic priests, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. Not exactly a pretty picture. This powerful, beautifully crafted film builds a case that screams out for reform of an institution that, like our military, is run by men with little or no outside supervision. One feels that like Nixon after the proven Watergate charges, the Pope should resign along with others who have allowed this outrageous behavior and its cover up to be so institutionalized.
Gibney’s films have a logical clarity that reinforces their intelligence. Smart, clear and wrenchingly powerful they explore institutions and the people who are part of them. From governors to prison guards he shows little patience for lies and incompetence. The chain he establishes in Maxima Culpa links the victims to the priests to their supervisors and on to Rome to the office formally run by the man who is now the Pope. What can you say? They knew, they had to know, the links are compelling. Why would this institution shelter these men (and women) who were abusing children and in some cases adults? Who would tolerate this behavior? Why would the Church tolerate this behavior? Yet the cover up continues.
In a year of films dealing with institutions, such as government officials slowly trying to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, or the military dealing with women being abused, or the Israel army ignoring the rights of the provocative Palestinians or even government failures to act on global warming, this is the best and it should be one of the nominees.
The Filmmaker
Alex Gibney is the founder of Jigsaw Productions. An Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning producer, he is well known for producing one of the highest grossing documentaries of all time, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.
His work as a writer and director includes the recent hit Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, as well as the 2006 Oscar-nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and the 2008 Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side. Alex attended the film program at UCLA.
Credits:
Director/Producer/Writer: Alex Gibney
Producers:Trevor Birney, Alexandra Johnes, Ruth O’Reilly, Kristen Vaurio, Jedd Wider, Todd Widler
Executive Producers: Jessica Kingdon, Sheila Nevins, Lori Singer
Writer: Mark Monroe
Cinematography: Lisa Rinzler
Original Music Composer: Ivor Guest
Editor: Sloane Klevin
Production Companies: Jigsaw Productions, Wilder Film Projects, Union Editorial
Distribution: Content Media, HBO Documentary Films, HBO
Paperman a short animated film by John Kahrs
Paperman is an original seven-minute-long short animated film produced by Disney Animation.
It tells the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him.
Director John Kahrs was the animation supervisor on Tangled, an animator on Bolt and Ratatouille, and worked on Pixar’s The Incredibles, Mike’s New Car, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 2 and A Bug’s Life. Kahrs now gets his break as a director at Disney. 14 years of work in the animation department at Pixar, that’s paying dues! Now, I understand why this “Disney” animation film looks and feels like a “Pixar” film. It’s brilliant, polished, and elegant and, like the Simpson short, silent. Expressive muted black and white images with a slight color tint in this perfect short film dramatizes love at first sight. Tasteful, romantic and above all beautifully executed, I look forward to Kahrs’ feature film debut. A little Pixar goes a long way and this work is expressive of adult feelings that any child could enjoy. No need to dumb the story down, it works for audiences of all ages. A perfect 10.
Original music by Christophe Beck (who has 105 scoring credits) this work is produced by Kristina Reed (from Disney) and Executive Produced by Pixar’s John Lasseter. Written by Clio Chiang and Kendrelle Hoyer, it shows that “less” can be plenty. Short films don’t get better than this!
Credits:
Directed by: John Kahrs
Produced by: Kristina Reed
Executive Producer: John Lasseter
Art Direction: Jeff Tuley
Written by: Chio Chiang and Kendelle Hoyer
Music by: Christophe Beck
Film Editing: Lisa Linder
Produced by: Walt Disney Animation
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Running time: 7:00
Short Notes and Update:
The Invisible War is on the New York Times' and Christian Science Monitor's and Newsweek's 10 Best Films of 2012. The Gate Keepers is on the Wall Street Journal’s 10 Best Films of 2012.
Academy announces 10 animated films shortlisted for the Animation Short Film Nomination
The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all 57 eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in New York and Los Angeles. I’ve seen all of the films and this is one of the strongest group shortlisted in years, from the elegant Pixar/Disney film Paperman to the wildly funny Simpsons’ Daycare. These films are a treat for the eyes and mind. Stunning, moving, original, powerful and frankly amazing they will both amuse and entertain and each of the 10 films is special. The styles range from traditional animation to computer designed. A number of students made it with entries which are testimony to their vigorous programs and their talent. This is a year where handicapping is impossible.
At screenings of the short listed films, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members have selected three to five nominees from among these 10 titles for its nominations.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 5:30 a.m. Pst in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Adam and Dog, Minkyu Lee, director (Lodge Films)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/34849443
Length: 16 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Combustible,Katsuhiro Otomo, director (Sunrise Inc.)
Web Link: None available
Length: 13 min.
Language: none
Country: Japan
Dripped, Léo Verrier, director (ChezEddy)
Web Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk9keXSBbhY
Length: 8 min.
Language: none
Country: France
The Eagleman Stag, Mikey Please, director, and Benedict Please, music scores and sound design (Royal College of Art)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/mikeyplease/eaglemanstag
Length: 9 min.
Language: none
Country: England
The Fall of the House of Usher, Raul Garcia, director, and Stephan Roelants, producer (Melusine Productions, R&R Communications Inc., Les Armateurs, The Big Farm)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/5So_E6yPW40
Length: 17 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Fresh Guacamole, Pes, director (Pes)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMO6vjmkyI
Length: 2 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Head over Heels, Timothy Reckart, director, and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly, producer (National Film and Television School)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/timr/headoverheels
Length: 10 min.
Language: none
Country: England
Maggie Simpson in The Longest Daycare, David Silverman, director (Gracie Films)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/gV-NRwLV2qU
Length: 5 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Paperman, John Kahrs, director (Disney Animation Studios)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsoiEpuvTeQ
*note this about the technology in this film, but not a true trailer
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Tram, Michaela Pavlátová, director, and Ron Dyens, producer (Sacrebleu Productions)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/a_QT-JaDswY
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: French
______________________________________________________________________
Errata
Volume 1 Issue 3 In Chasing Ice the film was edited by Davis Coombe (and not Mark Monroe); Distributor (Us) Submarine Deluxe (not National Geographic).
______________________________________________________________________________
Block Doc Workshops in Los Angeles
The International Documentary Association will be hosting Documentary Funding and Documentary Tune Up Workshops with Block on February 9/10. http://www.eventbrite.com/org/169037034
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Directed by Alex Gibney
In Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Oscar®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney examines the abuse of power in the Catholic Church through the story of four courageous deaf men who, in the first known case of public protest, set out to expose the priest who abused them. The film follows a cover-up that winds its way from the row houses of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare ruined choirs of Ireland's churches, all the way to the highest office of the Vatican.
Like Woodward and Bernstein covering the story of Watergate, Gibney uses the keyhole of the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the Us to show that the Pope knew (or should have known) that there is wide spread child abuse within the ranks of Catholic priests, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. Not exactly a pretty picture. This powerful, beautifully crafted film builds a case that screams out for reform of an institution that, like our military, is run by men with little or no outside supervision. One feels that like Nixon after the proven Watergate charges, the Pope should resign along with others who have allowed this outrageous behavior and its cover up to be so institutionalized.
Gibney’s films have a logical clarity that reinforces their intelligence. Smart, clear and wrenchingly powerful they explore institutions and the people who are part of them. From governors to prison guards he shows little patience for lies and incompetence. The chain he establishes in Maxima Culpa links the victims to the priests to their supervisors and on to Rome to the office formally run by the man who is now the Pope. What can you say? They knew, they had to know, the links are compelling. Why would this institution shelter these men (and women) who were abusing children and in some cases adults? Who would tolerate this behavior? Why would the Church tolerate this behavior? Yet the cover up continues.
In a year of films dealing with institutions, such as government officials slowly trying to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, or the military dealing with women being abused, or the Israel army ignoring the rights of the provocative Palestinians or even government failures to act on global warming, this is the best and it should be one of the nominees.
The Filmmaker
Alex Gibney is the founder of Jigsaw Productions. An Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning producer, he is well known for producing one of the highest grossing documentaries of all time, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.
His work as a writer and director includes the recent hit Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, as well as the 2006 Oscar-nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and the 2008 Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side. Alex attended the film program at UCLA.
Credits:
Director/Producer/Writer: Alex Gibney
Producers:Trevor Birney, Alexandra Johnes, Ruth O’Reilly, Kristen Vaurio, Jedd Wider, Todd Widler
Executive Producers: Jessica Kingdon, Sheila Nevins, Lori Singer
Writer: Mark Monroe
Cinematography: Lisa Rinzler
Original Music Composer: Ivor Guest
Editor: Sloane Klevin
Production Companies: Jigsaw Productions, Wilder Film Projects, Union Editorial
Distribution: Content Media, HBO Documentary Films, HBO
Paperman a short animated film by John Kahrs
Paperman is an original seven-minute-long short animated film produced by Disney Animation.
It tells the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him.
Director John Kahrs was the animation supervisor on Tangled, an animator on Bolt and Ratatouille, and worked on Pixar’s The Incredibles, Mike’s New Car, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 2 and A Bug’s Life. Kahrs now gets his break as a director at Disney. 14 years of work in the animation department at Pixar, that’s paying dues! Now, I understand why this “Disney” animation film looks and feels like a “Pixar” film. It’s brilliant, polished, and elegant and, like the Simpson short, silent. Expressive muted black and white images with a slight color tint in this perfect short film dramatizes love at first sight. Tasteful, romantic and above all beautifully executed, I look forward to Kahrs’ feature film debut. A little Pixar goes a long way and this work is expressive of adult feelings that any child could enjoy. No need to dumb the story down, it works for audiences of all ages. A perfect 10.
Original music by Christophe Beck (who has 105 scoring credits) this work is produced by Kristina Reed (from Disney) and Executive Produced by Pixar’s John Lasseter. Written by Clio Chiang and Kendrelle Hoyer, it shows that “less” can be plenty. Short films don’t get better than this!
Credits:
Directed by: John Kahrs
Produced by: Kristina Reed
Executive Producer: John Lasseter
Art Direction: Jeff Tuley
Written by: Chio Chiang and Kendelle Hoyer
Music by: Christophe Beck
Film Editing: Lisa Linder
Produced by: Walt Disney Animation
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Running time: 7:00
Short Notes and Update:
The Invisible War is on the New York Times' and Christian Science Monitor's and Newsweek's 10 Best Films of 2012. The Gate Keepers is on the Wall Street Journal’s 10 Best Films of 2012.
Academy announces 10 animated films shortlisted for the Animation Short Film Nomination
The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all 57 eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in New York and Los Angeles. I’ve seen all of the films and this is one of the strongest group shortlisted in years, from the elegant Pixar/Disney film Paperman to the wildly funny Simpsons’ Daycare. These films are a treat for the eyes and mind. Stunning, moving, original, powerful and frankly amazing they will both amuse and entertain and each of the 10 films is special. The styles range from traditional animation to computer designed. A number of students made it with entries which are testimony to their vigorous programs and their talent. This is a year where handicapping is impossible.
At screenings of the short listed films, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members have selected three to five nominees from among these 10 titles for its nominations.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 5:30 a.m. Pst in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Adam and Dog, Minkyu Lee, director (Lodge Films)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/34849443
Length: 16 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Combustible,Katsuhiro Otomo, director (Sunrise Inc.)
Web Link: None available
Length: 13 min.
Language: none
Country: Japan
Dripped, Léo Verrier, director (ChezEddy)
Web Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk9keXSBbhY
Length: 8 min.
Language: none
Country: France
The Eagleman Stag, Mikey Please, director, and Benedict Please, music scores and sound design (Royal College of Art)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/mikeyplease/eaglemanstag
Length: 9 min.
Language: none
Country: England
The Fall of the House of Usher, Raul Garcia, director, and Stephan Roelants, producer (Melusine Productions, R&R Communications Inc., Les Armateurs, The Big Farm)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/5So_E6yPW40
Length: 17 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Fresh Guacamole, Pes, director (Pes)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMO6vjmkyI
Length: 2 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Head over Heels, Timothy Reckart, director, and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly, producer (National Film and Television School)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/timr/headoverheels
Length: 10 min.
Language: none
Country: England
Maggie Simpson in The Longest Daycare, David Silverman, director (Gracie Films)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/gV-NRwLV2qU
Length: 5 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Paperman, John Kahrs, director (Disney Animation Studios)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsoiEpuvTeQ
*note this about the technology in this film, but not a true trailer
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Tram, Michaela Pavlátová, director, and Ron Dyens, producer (Sacrebleu Productions)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/a_QT-JaDswY
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: French
______________________________________________________________________
Errata
Volume 1 Issue 3 In Chasing Ice the film was edited by Davis Coombe (and not Mark Monroe); Distributor (Us) Submarine Deluxe (not National Geographic).
______________________________________________________________________________
Block Doc Workshops in Los Angeles
The International Documentary Association will be hosting Documentary Funding and Documentary Tune Up Workshops with Block on February 9/10. http://www.eventbrite.com/org/169037034
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
- 1/3/2013
- by Mitchell Block
- Sydney's Buzz
Paperman
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 animated short films will advance in the voting process for the 85th Academy Awards®. Fifty-six pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Adam and Dog,” Minkyu Lee, director (Lodge Films)
“Combustible,” Katsuhiro Otomo, director (Sunrise Inc.)
“Dripped,” Léo Verrier, director (ChezEddy)
“The Eagleman Stag,” Mikey Please, director, and Benedict Please, music scores and sound design (Royal College of Art)
“The Fall of the House of Usher,” Raul Garcia, director, and Stephan Roelants, producer (Melusine Productions, R&R Communications Inc., Les Armateurs, The Big Farm)
“Fresh Guacamole,” Pes, director (Pes)
“Head over Heels,” Timothy Reckart, director, and Fodhla Cronin O.Reilly, producer (National Film and Television School)
“Maggie Simpson in .The Longest Daycare.,” David Silverman, director (Gracie Films)
“Paperman,” John Kahrs, director (Disney Animation Studios)
“Tram,...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 animated short films will advance in the voting process for the 85th Academy Awards®. Fifty-six pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Adam and Dog,” Minkyu Lee, director (Lodge Films)
“Combustible,” Katsuhiro Otomo, director (Sunrise Inc.)
“Dripped,” Léo Verrier, director (ChezEddy)
“The Eagleman Stag,” Mikey Please, director, and Benedict Please, music scores and sound design (Royal College of Art)
“The Fall of the House of Usher,” Raul Garcia, director, and Stephan Roelants, producer (Melusine Productions, R&R Communications Inc., Les Armateurs, The Big Farm)
“Fresh Guacamole,” Pes, director (Pes)
“Head over Heels,” Timothy Reckart, director, and Fodhla Cronin O.Reilly, producer (National Film and Television School)
“Maggie Simpson in .The Longest Daycare.,” David Silverman, director (Gracie Films)
“Paperman,” John Kahrs, director (Disney Animation Studios)
“Tram,...
- 11/10/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The fifty-six wide list of Oscar semi-finalists previously announced has been narrowed down to just ten lucky films. Half of these (or less) will go on to win the insanely coveted title of "Oscar Nominee".
They are...
Adam and Dog (Minkyu Lee)
Combustible (Katsuhiro Otomo)
Dripped (Léo Verrier)
The Eagleman Stag (Mikey Please)
The Fall of the House of Usher (Raul Garcia)
Fresh Guacamole (Pes)
Head Over Heels (Timothy Reckart)
Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare' (David Silverman)
Paperman (John Kahrs)
Tram (Michaele Pavlátová)
The list is notable for: the absence of Pixar, which usually has a showpony in this race, though Paperman represents for Disney; nudity since Tram is comically erotic and the Adam of Adam and Dog is the first man; the absence of any previous winners -- only Michaela Pavlátová has been Oscar nominated previously! It'll be a first time for anyone who wins and maybe for all who are nominated.
They are...
Adam and Dog (Minkyu Lee)
Combustible (Katsuhiro Otomo)
Dripped (Léo Verrier)
The Eagleman Stag (Mikey Please)
The Fall of the House of Usher (Raul Garcia)
Fresh Guacamole (Pes)
Head Over Heels (Timothy Reckart)
Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare' (David Silverman)
Paperman (John Kahrs)
Tram (Michaele Pavlátová)
The list is notable for: the absence of Pixar, which usually has a showpony in this race, though Paperman represents for Disney; nudity since Tram is comically erotic and the Adam of Adam and Dog is the first man; the absence of any previous winners -- only Michaela Pavlátová has been Oscar nominated previously! It'll be a first time for anyone who wins and maybe for all who are nominated.
- 11/10/2012
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The world premiere of FilmDistrict’s Red Dawn reboot will close The Austin-based genre fest today. Well, if you didn’t already hear, Lithuanian sci-fi romantic thriller Vanishing Waves was the big winner by picking up four awards including Best Feature, Best Director (Kristina Buozyte), Best Screenplay (Bruno Samper, Buozyte), and Best Actress (Jurga Jutaite).
Have you ever dreamed of being inside the head of another person – a beloved one or your rival ? Have you ever wished to experience the ideal relationship, where two minds come into total fusion? “Vanishing waves” – a sci-fi melodrama. Following solid scientific experiment, based on the neural transfer, a young inhibited man will live an astonishing journey in the comatose woman anonymous mind. This contemporary tale is exploring the nature of desire by exposing links and contradictions between the human body and the mind.
Here Comes the Devil, Adrian Garcia Bogliano‘s homage to 70s horror films,...
Have you ever dreamed of being inside the head of another person – a beloved one or your rival ? Have you ever wished to experience the ideal relationship, where two minds come into total fusion? “Vanishing waves” – a sci-fi melodrama. Following solid scientific experiment, based on the neural transfer, a young inhibited man will live an astonishing journey in the comatose woman anonymous mind. This contemporary tale is exploring the nature of desire by exposing links and contradictions between the human body and the mind.
Here Comes the Devil, Adrian Garcia Bogliano‘s homage to 70s horror films,...
- 9/27/2012
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
One of the greatest film festivals on the face of the planet, Fantastic Fest in Austin Texas, has unveiled their award winners for 2012, and it's quite an impressive list to say the least. Read on to see who's taking home some fantastic memories!
From the Press Release
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce this year's Fantastic Fest Award winners. It's a terrible task to pick favorites and single out any of the magnificent films that played at this year's festival, but our esteemed team of jurors have done the nearly impossible and chosen the best and most striking films of the festival.
The audience awards are presented by accounting firm Maxwell Locke & Ritter, who provided the certified tabulation of ballots this year and are the exclusive accounting sponsor of Fantastic Fest. Amd is the presenter of the prestigious "Next Wave" Awards, which honors emerging filmmakers. The winner of the "Next...
From the Press Release
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce this year's Fantastic Fest Award winners. It's a terrible task to pick favorites and single out any of the magnificent films that played at this year's festival, but our esteemed team of jurors have done the nearly impossible and chosen the best and most striking films of the festival.
The audience awards are presented by accounting firm Maxwell Locke & Ritter, who provided the certified tabulation of ballots this year and are the exclusive accounting sponsor of Fantastic Fest. Amd is the presenter of the prestigious "Next Wave" Awards, which honors emerging filmmakers. The winner of the "Next...
- 9/25/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
We’ve already got a great line-up for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, but a few more quality films have been added to the Directors’ Fortnight section. Most notably is the latest film from Michel Gondry, The We and the I (more details on that one here). Then we’ve got Sightseers, the next film from Ben Wheatley, who gave us the frightening Kill List earlier this year. There’s also two Sundance films, one the excellent documentary on Stanley Kubrick‘s The Shining, Room 237, as well as the absurdly funny Wrong, from Quentin Dupieux (update: looks like it’s actually a brand-new short titled Wrong Cops, starring Marilyn Manson). Check out the line-up below.
Longs Metrages / Feature Films
3 de / by Pablo Stoll Ward (Uruguay, Allemagne, Argentine / Uruguay, Germany, Argentina) – Première internationale
Adieu Berthe, l’enterrement de mémé / Granny’s Funeral de / by Bruno Podalydès (France) – Première mondiale...
Longs Metrages / Feature Films
3 de / by Pablo Stoll Ward (Uruguay, Allemagne, Argentine / Uruguay, Germany, Argentina) – Première internationale
Adieu Berthe, l’enterrement de mémé / Granny’s Funeral de / by Bruno Podalydès (France) – Première mondiale...
- 4/24/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Yes, there's even more. With the lineup at the Cannes Film Festival already boasting a plethora of top-tier talent and highly anticipated films, the sidebar Directors' Fortnight is not to be outdone, and today they have unveiled their unusually name-brand-heavy lineup.
Michel Gondry's "The We & The I," Ben Wheatley's "Sightseers," plus new films by Pablo Lorrain, Quentin Dupieux and the late Raoul Ruiz will the lead the charge in 2012. Gondry's film has been rumored for south of France for a while now, but when it didn't show up in the Cannes lineup, and with the director already lensing his next effort "Mood Indigo," we figured we'd have to wait until the fall for "The We And The I." But the feature, which has been kept under wraps, and stars a cast of unknowns, will get a grand bow as the Opening Night film.
Elsewhere in the lineup: "Kill List...
Michel Gondry's "The We & The I," Ben Wheatley's "Sightseers," plus new films by Pablo Lorrain, Quentin Dupieux and the late Raoul Ruiz will the lead the charge in 2012. Gondry's film has been rumored for south of France for a while now, but when it didn't show up in the Cannes lineup, and with the director already lensing his next effort "Mood Indigo," we figured we'd have to wait until the fall for "The We And The I." But the feature, which has been kept under wraps, and stars a cast of unknowns, will get a grand bow as the Opening Night film.
Elsewhere in the lineup: "Kill List...
- 4/24/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Five animators nominate their favourite living artist in their field
Five animators nominate their favourite living artist in their field
Sharon Colman on Nick Park
Nick Park is a four-time Academy award-winning animation director and, of course, the creator of Wallace and Gromit. His characters are brought to life with sincere emotions and charm. It's all in the subtleties: the blink of an eye, the raising of an eyebrow. He lets his characters breathe and think, without relying purely on dialogue to carry the story. In some ways, Gromit says a lot more than Wallace.
Sharon Colman's Badgered was Oscar-nominated in 2006.
Joanna Quinn on Michaela Pavlátová
Czech animator Michaela Pavlátová's first film Words, Words, Words is a beautiful, funny piece about communication – without any dialogue. What struck me was how inventive she was. I was inspired by her bold sense of design, which continues the strong Czech graphic poster tradition.
Five animators nominate their favourite living artist in their field
Sharon Colman on Nick Park
Nick Park is a four-time Academy award-winning animation director and, of course, the creator of Wallace and Gromit. His characters are brought to life with sincere emotions and charm. It's all in the subtleties: the blink of an eye, the raising of an eyebrow. He lets his characters breathe and think, without relying purely on dialogue to carry the story. In some ways, Gromit says a lot more than Wallace.
Sharon Colman's Badgered was Oscar-nominated in 2006.
Joanna Quinn on Michaela Pavlátová
Czech animator Michaela Pavlátová's first film Words, Words, Words is a beautiful, funny piece about communication – without any dialogue. What struck me was how inventive she was. I was inspired by her bold sense of design, which continues the strong Czech graphic poster tradition.
- 9/28/2011
- by Emine Saner
- The Guardian - Film News
Henrik Ruben Genz’s (pictured above) Danish drama “Terribly Happy” (“Frygtelig Iykkelig”) took home the Grand Prix award Saturday at the 43th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
The film centers on a Copenhagen policeman (played by Jakob Cedergren) who’s temporarily reassigned to a provincial town, where he struggles with local customs and uncovers troubling secrets behind what appears to be peaceful small-town life.
The festival’s Special Jury Prize went to Nan Triveni Achnas’ “The Photograph,” about a 25-year-old prostitute who decides to fulfill a dying photographer’s last wishes.
Martha Issová picked up the Best Actress Award for her role in Michaela Pavlátová’s drama “Night Owls” (“Děti noci”), which focuses on a young woman unwilling to leave her childhood behind her.
The Best Actor Award went to Jiri Madl, who co-stars with Issová in “Night Owls.”...
The film centers on a Copenhagen policeman (played by Jakob Cedergren) who’s temporarily reassigned to a provincial town, where he struggles with local customs and uncovers troubling secrets behind what appears to be peaceful small-town life.
The festival’s Special Jury Prize went to Nan Triveni Achnas’ “The Photograph,” about a 25-year-old prostitute who decides to fulfill a dying photographer’s last wishes.
Martha Issová picked up the Best Actress Award for her role in Michaela Pavlátová’s drama “Night Owls” (“Děti noci”), which focuses on a young woman unwilling to leave her childhood behind her.
The Best Actor Award went to Jiri Madl, who co-stars with Issová in “Night Owls.”...
- 7/13/2008
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
MADRID -- John Crowley's Intermission (Ireland/United Kingdom/United States), starring Colin Farrell, and Amer Alwan's first nondocumentary feature, Zaman, the Man Who Lives in the Reeds (Iraq/France), are two of the 18 films from the San Sebastian International Film Festival's Zabaltegi section to compete for the new directors award, organizers said Tuesday. Such films as Victor Manuel Arregui's Fuera de Juego (Ecuador) and Michaela Pavlatova's Faithless Games (Czech Republic) emphasize San Sebastian's traditional focus on titles from emerging talent. First or second works by directors screened in the festival's Official, Zabaltegi and the newly created Horizontes sections -- highlighting Latin American films -- are eligible for the 120,000 ($130,833) Altadis-New Directors Award.
- 8/27/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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