Exclusive: The Europe-based Pop Up Film Residency Visegrad mentorship program has unveiled the filmmakers and mentors who will participate in its 2023 edition.
The program, which is among several feature development initiatives spearheaded by former TorinoFilmLab artistic director Matthieu Darras, consists of three-week residencies focused on mentoring filmmakers through the development of a feature project. Darras works together with Polish producers Iza Igel and Marta Lewandowska. This year the residency will be mounted in Warsaw and Wroclaw, Poland, from July 4 — 25.
Mentors for the upcoming edition include Polish director Anna Jadowska, Ukrainian director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Polish director Aleksandra Terpinska, Hungarian—Canadian writer/director Anita Doron, Script consultants Michaela Sabo and Aleksandra Swierk, and Lithuanian producer Marija Razgute.
Five feature directors will join the program, including Polish filmmaker Katarzyna Trzaska, whose last feature, Nauka Latania, screened at the Warsaw Film Festival.
The program, which is among several feature development initiatives spearheaded by former TorinoFilmLab artistic director Matthieu Darras, consists of three-week residencies focused on mentoring filmmakers through the development of a feature project. Darras works together with Polish producers Iza Igel and Marta Lewandowska. This year the residency will be mounted in Warsaw and Wroclaw, Poland, from July 4 — 25.
Mentors for the upcoming edition include Polish director Anna Jadowska, Ukrainian director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Polish director Aleksandra Terpinska, Hungarian—Canadian writer/director Anita Doron, Script consultants Michaela Sabo and Aleksandra Swierk, and Lithuanian producer Marija Razgute.
Five feature directors will join the program, including Polish filmmaker Katarzyna Trzaska, whose last feature, Nauka Latania, screened at the Warsaw Film Festival.
- 7/4/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Inaugurated in 2021, the Annecy Residency program takes three selected projects on a six-month journey, beginning with a three-month script workshop before moving to Annecy’s Papeteries Image Factory for a similar bout of tailored mentorships and visual experimentation. At the end, the filmmakers launch their development titles at the MIFA market.
When directors Pierre Le Couviour and Amine El Ouarti brought their residency-honed title “Le Cœur à danser” to last year’s MIFA, they very quickly found an eager partner in French studio Vivement Lundi, teaming with the Rennes-based production house to develop the project even further. That extra work paid off, and when the World War I-set folktale returned to pitch at this year’s MIFA, the project broke out as a serious buzz title, inspiring immediate and ardent distributor attention before claiming two of the three top prizes for best feature pitch.
That’s just a single 2021 residency project.
When directors Pierre Le Couviour and Amine El Ouarti brought their residency-honed title “Le Cœur à danser” to last year’s MIFA, they very quickly found an eager partner in French studio Vivement Lundi, teaming with the Rennes-based production house to develop the project even further. That extra work paid off, and when the World War I-set folktale returned to pitch at this year’s MIFA, the project broke out as a serious buzz title, inspiring immediate and ardent distributor attention before claiming two of the three top prizes for best feature pitch.
That’s just a single 2021 residency project.
- 6/16/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
2019 selection Nathalie Álvarez Mesén’s Clara Sola plays in Directors’ Fortnight.
Breaking Through The Lens (Bttl), the year-round programme to promote projects by female and non-binary international filmmakers, has unveiled the 10 finalists in this year’s virtual pitching event at the Marché.
They include: Dina Amer’s Cain And Abel (Egypt-France-us) about two French-born Muslims caught on either side of the 2015 Charlie Hedbo attack; Nihaarika Negi’s horror Feral (US) about the arrival of a shaman on a colonial estate in 1950s India; Tricia Lee’s Idol (US), a musical biopic about the celebrated American Idol contestant William Hung; Celine Cotran...
Breaking Through The Lens (Bttl), the year-round programme to promote projects by female and non-binary international filmmakers, has unveiled the 10 finalists in this year’s virtual pitching event at the Marché.
They include: Dina Amer’s Cain And Abel (Egypt-France-us) about two French-born Muslims caught on either side of the 2015 Charlie Hedbo attack; Nihaarika Negi’s horror Feral (US) about the arrival of a shaman on a colonial estate in 1950s India; Tricia Lee’s Idol (US), a musical biopic about the celebrated American Idol contestant William Hung; Celine Cotran...
- 7/10/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
“Disposable,” “Ghost Bros” and “Olivia and the Shadows” feature among projects to be pitched from Monday June 14 at at an Ibero-American Animation Focus held at Annecy’s Mifa market and backed by Argentina’s Ventana Sur section Animation!, Spain’s Quirino Awards and Mexico’s Pixelatl festival.
Projects’ slate includes two features, two TV series and a short. In addition, Ventana Sur will this year unveil a special program Animation! Mentoring Program: Female Directors in Focus, which it has created
with the support of Argentina’s French Institute to highlight the work of five women directors.
La Liga projects describe a broad gamut, Animation! head Silvina Cornillon told Variety just before Annecy. Some are clearly auteurist – “Disposable,” “Bring On the Revolution” and “Where Is My Espresso” – while others have far larger commercial potential, such as “Olivia and the Shadows” and “Ghost Bros.” All, however, reflect the Latin DNA of their creators,...
Projects’ slate includes two features, two TV series and a short. In addition, Ventana Sur will this year unveil a special program Animation! Mentoring Program: Female Directors in Focus, which it has created
with the support of Argentina’s French Institute to highlight the work of five women directors.
La Liga projects describe a broad gamut, Animation! head Silvina Cornillon told Variety just before Annecy. Some are clearly auteurist – “Disposable,” “Bring On the Revolution” and “Where Is My Espresso” – while others have far larger commercial potential, such as “Olivia and the Shadows” and “Ghost Bros.” All, however, reflect the Latin DNA of their creators,...
- 6/14/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Ziki Nelson, the writer, director and creator of Iwájú’, has signed with Newmation for management.
Based on an original concept from Nelson and his Pan-African entertainment company Kugali, Iwájú’ is the first ever African animated comic book series for Disney+. The upcoming series described by Disney as a “first of its kind collaboration” is set in neo-futuristic Lago. The sci-fi project, which is currently in production, will explore themes of class, innocence and challenging the status quo. It is scheduled to debut on the Disney+ streaming platform in 2022.
“I am so thrilled to welcome Ziki to Newmation,” said former CAA motion picture agent David Neumann, who launched the company last year. “Our clients span six continents and we pride ourselves on having global reach as a company. As a filmmaker from Lagos Nigeria, I think Ziki’s talent as a filmmaker is pioneering and his voice as a storyteller is universal.
Based on an original concept from Nelson and his Pan-African entertainment company Kugali, Iwájú’ is the first ever African animated comic book series for Disney+. The upcoming series described by Disney as a “first of its kind collaboration” is set in neo-futuristic Lago. The sci-fi project, which is currently in production, will explore themes of class, innocence and challenging the status quo. It is scheduled to debut on the Disney+ streaming platform in 2022.
“I am so thrilled to welcome Ziki to Newmation,” said former CAA motion picture agent David Neumann, who launched the company last year. “Our clients span six continents and we pride ourselves on having global reach as a company. As a filmmaker from Lagos Nigeria, I think Ziki’s talent as a filmmaker is pioneering and his voice as a storyteller is universal.
- 6/8/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Former CAA motion picture agent David Neumann has launched Newmation, a management company for film and TV animation creators.
Neumann’s initial clients include Oscar winner Hugh Welchman (Loving Vincent), Anita Doron (The Breadwinner) and Gary Trousdale (Beauty and The Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame). At CAA, Neumann represented Hollywood talent like David Yates (Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts), Welchman, Arlene Klasky and Todd Komarnicki (Sully).
Newmation is launching as the global demand for animation content grows, Neumann insisted.
“It is an honor to work with these talented filmmakers and I can’t wait to share our unique projects with ...
Neumann’s initial clients include Oscar winner Hugh Welchman (Loving Vincent), Anita Doron (The Breadwinner) and Gary Trousdale (Beauty and The Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame). At CAA, Neumann represented Hollywood talent like David Yates (Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts), Welchman, Arlene Klasky and Todd Komarnicki (Sully).
Newmation is launching as the global demand for animation content grows, Neumann insisted.
“It is an honor to work with these talented filmmakers and I can’t wait to share our unique projects with ...
- 11/19/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Former CAA motion picture agent David Neumann has launched Newmation, a management company for film and TV animation creators.
Neumann’s initial clients include Oscar winner Hugh Welchman (Loving Vincent), Anita Doron (The Breadwinner) and Gary Trousdale (Beauty and The Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame). At CAA, Neumann represented Hollywood talent like David Yates (Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts), Welchman, Arlene Klasky and Todd Komarnicki (Sully).
Newmation is launching as the global demand for animation content grows, Neumann insisted.
“It is an honor to work with these talented filmmakers and I can’t wait to share our unique projects with ...
Neumann’s initial clients include Oscar winner Hugh Welchman (Loving Vincent), Anita Doron (The Breadwinner) and Gary Trousdale (Beauty and The Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame). At CAA, Neumann represented Hollywood talent like David Yates (Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts), Welchman, Arlene Klasky and Todd Komarnicki (Sully).
Newmation is launching as the global demand for animation content grows, Neumann insisted.
“It is an honor to work with these talented filmmakers and I can’t wait to share our unique projects with ...
- 11/19/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
David Neumann, a former agent at CAA based out of the agency’s New York office, has launched his own management and production company focused on animation called Newmation.
Newmation is launching with a specific focus on managing those in the animation world on animated film and TV projects, capitalizing on animation production continuing remotely as live-action projects are still slowly trickling back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And back at CAA where he worked for one year, Neumann was tasked by Kevin Huvane in growing CAA’s Global Animation Initiative.
Neumann’s initial client list at Newmation includes Oscar winner Hugh Welchman (“Loving Vincent”), Anita Doron (“The Breadwinner”), Gary Trousdale, Andrew Chesworth and Shaofu Zhang (“One Small Step”), Malenga Mulendema (“Mama K’s Team 4”) and Gustavo Steinberg (“Tito and The Birds”), as well as studio outfits Taiko Studios and Breakthru Films.
“I am so thrilled to announce the launch of Newmation.
Newmation is launching with a specific focus on managing those in the animation world on animated film and TV projects, capitalizing on animation production continuing remotely as live-action projects are still slowly trickling back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And back at CAA where he worked for one year, Neumann was tasked by Kevin Huvane in growing CAA’s Global Animation Initiative.
Neumann’s initial client list at Newmation includes Oscar winner Hugh Welchman (“Loving Vincent”), Anita Doron (“The Breadwinner”), Gary Trousdale, Andrew Chesworth and Shaofu Zhang (“One Small Step”), Malenga Mulendema (“Mama K’s Team 4”) and Gustavo Steinberg (“Tito and The Birds”), as well as studio outfits Taiko Studios and Breakthru Films.
“I am so thrilled to announce the launch of Newmation.
- 11/18/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
limited
The Breadwinner
A young girl (voiced by Saara Chaudry) in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan disguises herself as a boy in order to support her mother and sister. Directed by Nora Twomey; written by Anita Doron.
my review | find cinemas
The Rape of Recy Taylor
Nancy Buirski writes and directs this documentary about unsung pioneer of the American civil rights movement Recy Taylor, a black woman raped by white men in Alabama in 1944 who dared to demand justice.
my review | find cinemas
Zama
Lucrecia Martel writes and directs this historical drama about a (male) Spanish officer in 17th-century South America.
find cinemas
Edie [pictured]
Sheila Hancock stars as a woman who has devoted her entire life to others who now sets off on a physical adventure solely for herself. Cowritten by Elizabeth O’Halloran. (male director)
my review | find cinemas
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran
Sanyukta Shaikh Chawla cowrites this historical docudrama about...
The Breadwinner
A young girl (voiced by Saara Chaudry) in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan disguises herself as a boy in order to support her mother and sister. Directed by Nora Twomey; written by Anita Doron.
my review | find cinemas
The Rape of Recy Taylor
Nancy Buirski writes and directs this documentary about unsung pioneer of the American civil rights movement Recy Taylor, a black woman raped by white men in Alabama in 1944 who dared to demand justice.
my review | find cinemas
Zama
Lucrecia Martel writes and directs this historical drama about a (male) Spanish officer in 17th-century South America.
find cinemas
Edie [pictured]
Sheila Hancock stars as a woman who has devoted her entire life to others who now sets off on a physical adventure solely for herself. Cowritten by Elizabeth O’Halloran. (male director)
my review | find cinemas
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran
Sanyukta Shaikh Chawla cowrites this historical docudrama about...
- 5/25/2018
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
MaryAnn’s quick take… Beautiful and startling, bursting with both brutality and hope, this animated adventure is too intense for young children, but the brains and bravery of its young heroine will inspire older kids and adults alike. I’m “biast” (pro): I’m desperate for movies about girls and women
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto) women’s participation in this film
(learn more about this)
Opportunity” means something radically different and simpler for 12-year-old Parvana (the voice of Saara Chaudry), growing up in Kabul under the Taliban in 2001, than what we in the West think of. When her father is unjustly arrested — the charge regards owning books and teaching his daughters to read, both heinous crimes under the harsh regime — her family is left with no male chaperone for her, her older sister,...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto) women’s participation in this film
(learn more about this)
Opportunity” means something radically different and simpler for 12-year-old Parvana (the voice of Saara Chaudry), growing up in Kabul under the Taliban in 2001, than what we in the West think of. When her father is unjustly arrested — the charge regards owning books and teaching his daughters to read, both heinous crimes under the harsh regime — her family is left with no male chaperone for her, her older sister,...
- 5/25/2018
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
It's been announced that Aircraft Pictures, the independent film, TV and digital media production company, will once again team with The Breadwinner screenwriter, Anita Doron, for a new feature animation project entitled Daughter Of Bells. According to the film's producers, the tale of Daughter Of Bells tells of an attack on the fictional city of Cadenza that sees all inhabitants turned to stone... Read More...
- 2/23/2018
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
On the heels of Academy Award-nominated The Breadwinner, Toronto-based Aircraft Pictures has again teamed up with The Breadwinner screenwriter Anita Doron to develop an animated feature titled Daughter of Bells.
Aircraft will co-develop and co-produce the film with Wasabi Entertainment, the original content division of Relish Interactive (Weirdwood Manor).
The Breadwinner was an international co-production between Aircraft, Ireland's Cartoon Saloon and Luxembourg's Melusine Productions. Aircraft's co-founder Anthony Leo is Oscar-nominated as producer of The Breadwinner, which earned the Annie Award for best independent animated feature, Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations, and animated feature honors from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award and...
Aircraft will co-develop and co-produce the film with Wasabi Entertainment, the original content division of Relish Interactive (Weirdwood Manor).
The Breadwinner was an international co-production between Aircraft, Ireland's Cartoon Saloon and Luxembourg's Melusine Productions. Aircraft's co-founder Anthony Leo is Oscar-nominated as producer of The Breadwinner, which earned the Annie Award for best independent animated feature, Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations, and animated feature honors from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award and...
- 2/23/2018
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
The Breadwinner (Nora Twomey)
In the Taliban-controlled Afghan city of Kabul, Nora Twomey’s debut film as sole director (she co-helmed Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells) depicts an eleven-year old girl facing the futility her future inevitably holds. Adapted by Anita Doron from the award-winning novel by Deborah Ellis, The Breadwinner delivers a heart-wrenching coming-of-age tale within a nation that’s lost its way. The shift was virtually...
The Breadwinner (Nora Twomey)
In the Taliban-controlled Afghan city of Kabul, Nora Twomey’s debut film as sole director (she co-helmed Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells) depicts an eleven-year old girl facing the futility her future inevitably holds. Adapted by Anita Doron from the award-winning novel by Deborah Ellis, The Breadwinner delivers a heart-wrenching coming-of-age tale within a nation that’s lost its way. The shift was virtually...
- 2/23/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Pixar’s Día de los Muertos saga, “Coco,” the Oscar frontrunner, led the pack with 13 nominations for the 45th Annie Awards, followed by GKid’s powerful indie fave, “The Breadwinner,” with 10. Both are expected to win the top categories for feature and indie feature at the February 3rd Asifa-Hollywood ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
“Coco” also picked up nominations for directing (Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina), character design, two each for character animation and storyboarding, writing (Molina and Matthew Aldrich), Michael Giacchino’s music, production design, effects, editing, and voice acting for newcomer Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel.
“The Breadwinner,” about a young girl forced to become a boy in Afghanistan, also collected nominations for directing (Cartoon Saloon’s Nora Twomey), Mychael and Jeff Danna’s music, two voice acting bids for Saara Chaudry and Laara Sadiq, character design, production design, storyboarding, writing (Anita Doron), and editing.
Overall, GKids grabbed 16 nominations — for “The Breadwinner,...
“Coco” also picked up nominations for directing (Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina), character design, two each for character animation and storyboarding, writing (Molina and Matthew Aldrich), Michael Giacchino’s music, production design, effects, editing, and voice acting for newcomer Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel.
“The Breadwinner,” about a young girl forced to become a boy in Afghanistan, also collected nominations for directing (Cartoon Saloon’s Nora Twomey), Mychael and Jeff Danna’s music, two voice acting bids for Saara Chaudry and Laara Sadiq, character design, production design, storyboarding, writing (Anita Doron), and editing.
Overall, GKids grabbed 16 nominations — for “The Breadwinner,...
- 12/4/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
When a few hundred films stop by the Toronto International Film Festival, it’s certainly impossible to cover everything, but we were able to catch around 100 features — and, with that, it’s time to conclude our experience, following the festival’s own award winners. We’ve rounded up our favorite films seen during the festival, followed by a list of the complete coverage.
Stay tuned over the next months (or years) as we bring updates on films as they make their way to screens. One can also click here for a link to all of our coverage, including news, trailers, reviews, and much more. As always, thanks for reading, and let us know what you’re most looking forward to in the comments below.
The Breadwinner (Nora Twomey)
In the Taliban-controlled Afghan city of Kabul, Nora Twomey’s debut film as sole director (she co-helmed Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells...
Stay tuned over the next months (or years) as we bring updates on films as they make their way to screens. One can also click here for a link to all of our coverage, including news, trailers, reviews, and much more. As always, thanks for reading, and let us know what you’re most looking forward to in the comments below.
The Breadwinner (Nora Twomey)
In the Taliban-controlled Afghan city of Kabul, Nora Twomey’s debut film as sole director (she co-helmed Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells...
- 9/18/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
In the Taliban-controlled Afghan city of Kabul, Nora Twomey’s debut film as sole director (she co-helmed Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells) depicts an eleven-year old girl facing the futility her future inevitably holds. Adapted by Anita Doron from the award-winning novel by Deborah Ellis, The Breadwinner delivers a heart-wrenching coming-of-age tale within a nation that’s lost its way. The shift was virtually overnight once the Taliban took over: women forced under hoods and trapped in houses, photographs and books outlawed, and men turned cruel as “protectors” of an extremist interpretation of a peaceful religion. The city’s former glory is immortalized only through stories of those who still remember. And as they perish to be replaced with new generations raised in hate, the past risks being forgotten forever.
Parvana (Saara Chaudry) is one of the lucky few that knows this former life thanks to her ex- schoolteacher...
Parvana (Saara Chaudry) is one of the lucky few that knows this former life thanks to her ex- schoolteacher...
- 9/13/2017
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
The multi-hyphenate and her Jolie Pas Productions have joined the filmmaking team on the upcoming animation.
Jolie Pitt will serve as an executive producer on The Breadwinner, which is based on Canadian author Deborah Ellis’ Ya novel and scheduled to begin shooting in August for an early 2017 delivery.
Nora Twomey, who co-directed the Oscar-nominated The Secret Of Kells, will direct from Anita Doron’s script based on the screen story by Ellis about a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan who must disguise herself as a boy and look after her family when her father is imprisoned unfairly.
Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions are producing English-language and Dari versions. CAA represents all three companies on the production.
Tomm Moore and Paul Young of the Cartoon Saloon produce with Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures and Stephan Roelants of Melusine Productions.
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer – the filmmakers behind documentary The Square...
Jolie Pitt will serve as an executive producer on The Breadwinner, which is based on Canadian author Deborah Ellis’ Ya novel and scheduled to begin shooting in August for an early 2017 delivery.
Nora Twomey, who co-directed the Oscar-nominated The Secret Of Kells, will direct from Anita Doron’s script based on the screen story by Ellis about a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan who must disguise herself as a boy and look after her family when her father is imprisoned unfairly.
Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions are producing English-language and Dari versions. CAA represents all three companies on the production.
Tomm Moore and Paul Young of the Cartoon Saloon produce with Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures and Stephan Roelants of Melusine Productions.
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer – the filmmakers behind documentary The Square...
- 8/11/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Angelina Jolie Pitt will serve as an executive producer of the upcoming animated feature film, “The Breadwinner,” along with her Jolie Pas Production company. The film will be based on the young adult novel of the same name by Canadian author Deborah Ellis, and will be directed by Nora Twomey. Anita Doron is writing the screenplay. “The Breadwinner” follows the story of Parvana, a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. She must disguise herself as a boy, and when her father is unfairly imprisoned, she must become the breadwinner of the family. Also Read: Angelina Jolie Pitt to Direct 'First.
- 8/11/2015
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Angelina Jolie Pitt and her Jolie Pas Productions today signed on with Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions for The Breadwinner, an animated feature based on the best-selling young adult novel by Canadian author Deborah Ellis. Nora Twomey (co-director, Oscar-nominee The Secret of Kells) will direct with screen story by Ellis and screenplay by Anita Doron. It’s the story of Parvana, an Afghan girl living under Taliban rule who disguises herself as a…...
- 8/11/2015
- Deadline
Captain Marvel
Finally, Mma fighting champ Ronda Rousey was recently asked which superhero she would like to play in a film during a Reddit Ama and her response was: "Well... a lot of the good ones have been taken, but I'd like to vie for Miss Marvel" which refers to Captain Marvel. At last report, Emily Blunt has been strongly linked to the role for the character's upcoming solo movie.
The Breadwinner
Angelina Jolie Pitt is set to produce "The Breadwinner," an animated feature based on the best-selling young adult novel by Canadian author Deborah Ellis. Nora Twomey ("The Secret of Kells") will direct from a screenplay by Anita Doron.
The story follows an Afghani girl living under Taliban rule who disguises herself as a boy to become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned. A cut of the film will be produced in Dari in...
Finally, Mma fighting champ Ronda Rousey was recently asked which superhero she would like to play in a film during a Reddit Ama and her response was: "Well... a lot of the good ones have been taken, but I'd like to vie for Miss Marvel" which refers to Captain Marvel. At last report, Emily Blunt has been strongly linked to the role for the character's upcoming solo movie.
The Breadwinner
Angelina Jolie Pitt is set to produce "The Breadwinner," an animated feature based on the best-selling young adult novel by Canadian author Deborah Ellis. Nora Twomey ("The Secret of Kells") will direct from a screenplay by Anita Doron.
The story follows an Afghani girl living under Taliban rule who disguises herself as a boy to become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned. A cut of the film will be produced in Dari in...
- 8/11/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
It was announced today at the VFX Summit in Dublin that the Cartoon Saloon and Aircraft Pictures production is closing finance now.
Financing is being completed now for the animated feature The Breadwinner, based on Deborah Ellis’ bestselling and influential novel.
Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) and Canada’s Aircraft Pictures (Cybergeddon, Todd & The Book of Pure Evil) are partnering on the animated family feature.
Paul Young, co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, announced at the VFX Summit in Dublin today that production is expected to begin on the film in April 2015, with a theatrical launch planned for 2017. StudioCanal will release the film in the UK, building on its work with Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells and the forthcoming Song of the Sea.
Cartoon Saloon partner Nora Twomey [pictured], who co-directed Kells, will direct.
The Breadwinner tells the story of Parvana, a young girl living under Taliban rule in...
Financing is being completed now for the animated feature The Breadwinner, based on Deborah Ellis’ bestselling and influential novel.
Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) and Canada’s Aircraft Pictures (Cybergeddon, Todd & The Book of Pure Evil) are partnering on the animated family feature.
Paul Young, co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, announced at the VFX Summit in Dublin today that production is expected to begin on the film in April 2015, with a theatrical launch planned for 2017. StudioCanal will release the film in the UK, building on its work with Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells and the forthcoming Song of the Sea.
Cartoon Saloon partner Nora Twomey [pictured], who co-directed Kells, will direct.
The Breadwinner tells the story of Parvana, a young girl living under Taliban rule in...
- 11/29/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Forty Canadian and international producers will head to the Ontario Media Development Corporation’s annual International Financing Forum in Toronto.Scroll down for full list of projects
The ninth-annual International Financing Forum (Iff), a feature co-financing market for English-language projects, will run Sept 7-8 during Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14).
The two-day event includes one-on-one meetings, an industry panel discussion, roundtable meetings, a networking luncheon, and a producers’ opening night networking reception.
Iff partners include Telefilm Canada, UK Trade and Investment (Ukti), and Toronto Film Commission & Entertainment Industries.
Among this year’s international projects are:
The Lunchbox producer Guneet Monga with sci-fi drama Punha, starring Kanal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory;
Land Ho! producers Mynette Louie and Sara Murphy reteaming with director Aaron Katz on Settlers;
former Screen International Future Leader Sol Bondy of Germany’s One Two Films with Us-based Jennifer Fox with her thriller The Tale to star Laura Dern, Ellen Burstyn and [link...
The ninth-annual International Financing Forum (Iff), a feature co-financing market for English-language projects, will run Sept 7-8 during Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14).
The two-day event includes one-on-one meetings, an industry panel discussion, roundtable meetings, a networking luncheon, and a producers’ opening night networking reception.
Iff partners include Telefilm Canada, UK Trade and Investment (Ukti), and Toronto Film Commission & Entertainment Industries.
Among this year’s international projects are:
The Lunchbox producer Guneet Monga with sci-fi drama Punha, starring Kanal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory;
Land Ho! producers Mynette Louie and Sara Murphy reteaming with director Aaron Katz on Settlers;
former Screen International Future Leader Sol Bondy of Germany’s One Two Films with Us-based Jennifer Fox with her thriller The Tale to star Laura Dern, Ellen Burstyn and [link...
- 8/26/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Irish animation outfit Cartoon Saloon, one of the producers behind Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells and upcoming Tomm Moore animation Song of the Sea, is in development on new project The Breadwinner, a co-production with Canadian company Aircraft Pictures.
The Secret of Kells co-director Nora Twomey from Cartoon Saloon will direct the film, which will be produced in Ireland and Canada. Production is planned to begin this year.
Deborah Ellis and Anita Doron’s adaptation of Ellis’ novel of the same name follows Parvana, a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan who must disguise herself as a boy and become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned for being an intellectual.
Development work on the project has been assisted by Telefilm Canada, the Irish Film Board, The Belinda Stronach Foundation and Movie Central, a Corus Entertainment company.
Cartoon Saloon was established by Tomm Moore, Paul Young and [link...
The Secret of Kells co-director Nora Twomey from Cartoon Saloon will direct the film, which will be produced in Ireland and Canada. Production is planned to begin this year.
Deborah Ellis and Anita Doron’s adaptation of Ellis’ novel of the same name follows Parvana, a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan who must disguise herself as a boy and become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned for being an intellectual.
Development work on the project has been assisted by Telefilm Canada, the Irish Film Board, The Belinda Stronach Foundation and Movie Central, a Corus Entertainment company.
Cartoon Saloon was established by Tomm Moore, Paul Young and [link...
- 3/5/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
DVD, Digital, VOD Release Date: June 25, 2013
Price: DVD $26.95
Studio: Monterey
Joel Nathan Evans takes it day by day in The Lesser Blessed.
The 2012 independent film drama The Lesser Blessed examines what it’s like to be a vulnerable teenager in today’s modern world.
Larry (Joel Nathan Evans) is a teenager living in a small, remote community in Canada whose life is full of too many parties, too much drinking, and not enough responsibility or independence. Seeking to belong without belonging, Larry and his friend try to absorb life’s lessons when it comes to love, racial tensions and the overall recklessness of youth. Larry tries to do this while his world remains clouded by a dark mystery from his past.
Written and directed by Anita Doron from the novel by Richard Van Camp, the R-rated film stars Chloe Rose, Kiowa Gordon and Benjamin Bratt (La Mission).
The Lesser Blessed...
Price: DVD $26.95
Studio: Monterey
Joel Nathan Evans takes it day by day in The Lesser Blessed.
The 2012 independent film drama The Lesser Blessed examines what it’s like to be a vulnerable teenager in today’s modern world.
Larry (Joel Nathan Evans) is a teenager living in a small, remote community in Canada whose life is full of too many parties, too much drinking, and not enough responsibility or independence. Seeking to belong without belonging, Larry and his friend try to absorb life’s lessons when it comes to love, racial tensions and the overall recklessness of youth. Larry tries to do this while his world remains clouded by a dark mystery from his past.
Written and directed by Anita Doron from the novel by Richard Van Camp, the R-rated film stars Chloe Rose, Kiowa Gordon and Benjamin Bratt (La Mission).
The Lesser Blessed...
- 5/29/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Monterey Media has acquired all U.S. rights from Entertainment One Film International for the coming-of-age drama "The Lesser Blessed," starring Benjamin Bratt, Kiowa Gordon ("The Twilight Saga") and Chloe Rose (TV's "Degrassi: The Next Generation). The film was written and directed by Anita Doron ("The End of Silence"), and world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival late last year. Here's the synopsis, per Monterey: "Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Richard Van Camp, 'The Lesser Blessed' is an eye-opening depiction of what it is like to be a vulnerable teenager in today’s modern world. Through the eyes of Larry Sole, a Native-American teenager filled with bravado and angst, comes the story of three unlikely friends isolated in a small rural town discovering what they can of life and love amid racial tensions and the recklessness of youth, in a world clouded by a dark mystery from his.
- 2/6/2013
- by Nigel M Smith
- Indiewire
Canadian Screen Awards 2013 nominations: War Witch rules The Genie Awards are dead, long live the Canadian Screen Awards! Well, in truth, the Genie Awards aren’t exactly dead; they’ve just been transmogrified, along with Canadian television’s Gemini Awards, into the aforementioned Canadian Screen Awards, organized by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. But Genie or Canadian Screen, once again a Québécois production dominates the nominations roster. (Photo: Rachel Mwanza in Kim Nguyen’s War Witch.) Kim Nguyen’s Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award nominee Rebelle / War Witch, the story of a (very) young African rebel fighter, received a total of 12 Canadian Screen Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Berlin Film Festival’s Best Actress Rachel Mwanza), Best Supporting Actor (Serge Kanyinda), and Best Original Screenplay (Nguyen). War Witch follows in the heels of recent Quebec-made Genie Award powerhouses and eventual Best Picture winners such...
- 1/16/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
The Lesser Blessed is described as a powerful coming-of-age story about a Native teenager balancing his romantic heart with a dark past that threatens to unravel his life. The movie is actually an adaptation of Richard Van Camp‘s novel of the same name, and comes from director Anita Doron. Today, we’re here to share the official trailer and some pretty cool images from the whole thing, hope you’ll like it!
The Lesser Blessed features a largely Canadian cast including Joel Evans, Chloe Rose, Kiowa Gordon, and Benjamin Bratt, and tells the story of Larry Sole – a teenage metalhead living on a First Nations reserve in the Northwest Territories who grapples with the challenges of adolescence.
Larry is a Tlicho Indian growing up in the small northern town of Fort Simmer. His tongue, hallucinations and fantasies are hotter than the centre of the sun. At sixteen, he loves heavy metal music,...
The Lesser Blessed features a largely Canadian cast including Joel Evans, Chloe Rose, Kiowa Gordon, and Benjamin Bratt, and tells the story of Larry Sole – a teenage metalhead living on a First Nations reserve in the Northwest Territories who grapples with the challenges of adolescence.
Larry is a Tlicho Indian growing up in the small northern town of Fort Simmer. His tongue, hallucinations and fantasies are hotter than the centre of the sun. At sixteen, he loves heavy metal music,...
- 12/17/2012
- by Jeanne Standal
- Filmofilia
The Lesser Blessed Trailer. Anita Doron‘s The Lesser Blessed (2012) movie trailer stars Benjamin Bratt, Krista Bridges, Kiowa Gordon, Adam Butcher, and Chloe Rose. The Lesser Blessed‘s plot synopsis: “ An adaptation of Richard Van Camp’s acclaimed novel, it’s the story of Larry, a Native teen with a troubled past [...]
Continue reading: The Lesser Blessed (2012) Movie Trailer: Anita Doron, Benjamin Bratt...
Continue reading: The Lesser Blessed (2012) Movie Trailer: Anita Doron, Benjamin Bratt...
- 10/1/2012
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
One Canadian title that premiered at Tiff with relatively little fanfare is Anita Doron's The Lesser Blessed. An adaptation of Richard Van Camp's acclaimed novel, it's the story of Larry, a Native teen with a troubled past which includes family tragedy, abuse and gasoline sniffing that now results in the occasional blackout. Larry also has "a quick tongue, hallucinations, an appreciation for Iron Maiden, and hot fantasies about Juliet Hope, the school tramp." His life takes a turn for the better when me befriends Johnny, a teen from another Nation, who helps him get past the bad times and see a possibly happy future. [Continued ...]...
- 9/27/2012
- QuietEarth.us
This year’s Toronto was competing in my psyche with the recent loss of my mother. My focus was less on finding the greatest of films this year. I hear from others that the festival offered a good mix, if not the most outstanding, selection of films. Personally, I am discovering that a new community has opened its arms to me and the films that are standing out most for me are by women and about women. My community, those women who have lost their mothers, is sharing a unique and profound rite of passage whose meaning continuously unfolds.
In Toronto I was hyper aware of the women and their position in this corner of the world I inhabit. Canadian women, Helga Stephenson, Director Emerita of the Toronto Film Festival, predecessor to Piers Handling; Michele Maheux, Executive Director and COO of Tiff ever since I've known her which has been a long time; Linda Beath who headed United Artists when I was beginning my career and who has since moved to Europe where she teaches at Eave (European Audio Visual Entrepreneurs), Kay Armitrage, programmer of the festival for 24 years and professor at University of Toronto, are all women to helped me envisage myself as a professional in the film business, and they are still as vibrant and active as when we met more than 25 years ago. Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada’s Executive Director continues Canada’s female lineage as does Karen Thorne-Stone, the President and CEO of Ontario Media Development Corporation.
18 films currently are in a large part attributable to Omdc; they include Nisha Pahuja’s doc The World Before Her (contact Cinetic) (Best Doc Feature of 2012 Tribeca Ff), Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz (Isa: TF1), Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children (Isa: FilmNation), Anita Doron’s The Lesser Blessed, (Isa: EOne) Ruba Nadda’s Inescapable (Isa: Myriad), Alison Rose’s doc, Following the Wise Men.
Tiff’s new program for year-round support of mid-level Canadian filmmakers, Studio, under the directorship of Hayet Benkara is bringing industry mentorship to 16 filmmakers with experience, shorts in the festival circuit, features in development. Exactly half of these filmmakers are women. This was a conscious move on Hayet’s part. She said there is always such a predominance of males without thinking about it that she decided to bring balance.
Then a look at some more of the Canadian talent here brings me to the Birks Diamonds celebration of seven Canadian women: Anais Barbeau-Lavalette, Manon Briand, Anita Doron, Deepa Mehta (Midnight’s Children), Kate Melville, and Ruba Nadda which honored each with a Birks diamond pendant in a reception hosted by Shangri-La Hotel and Telefilm Canada where 300 guests mingled and caught up with each other. The pre-eminence of women was again made so apparent to me.
Talking to publicist Jim Dobson at Indie PR at the reception of Jordanian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir whose film When I Saw You was so evocative of the 60s, a time of worldwide freedom and even optimism among the fedayeem in Jordan looking to resist the Expulsion of the Palestinians from Palestine; he said that all five of his clients here are women directors, “I had When I Saw You, (Isa: The Match Factory), Satellite Boy (Isa: Celluloid Dreams/ Nightmare), Hannah Arendt (The Match Factory), Inch'allah (Isa: eOne), English Vinglish (Isa: Eros Int')."
Of the 289 features here at Tiff, Melissa Silverstein at Women and Hollywood is trying to zero in on the women directors, so watch her blogs More Women-Directed Films Nab Deals out of Tiff, Tiff Preview: Women Directors to Watch and Tiff Preview: The Female Directing Masters Playing at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival.
Add to this the upcoming Sundance initiative on women directors that Keri Putnam is heading up (more on that later!) and I am feeling heartened by the consciousness of women, directors and otherwise, out there. That is saying a lot since last season in Cannes with the pathetic number of women directors showing up in the festival and sidebars this past spring.
Here is the Female Factor for Tiff 12 which scores an A in my book:
Gala Presentations - 6 out of 20 = c. 30% which is way above the usual 13% which has been the average up until Cannes upended that with its paltry 2%..2 of these were opening night films.
Mira Nair The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Also showed in Venice. Isa: K5. Picked up for U.S. and Canada by IFC. Shola Lynch Free Angela & All Political Prisoners. Isa: Elle Driver Deepa Mehta Midnight’s Children. Isa: FilmNation already sold to Roadshow for Australia/ N.Z., Unikorea for So. Korea, DeaPlaneta for Spain. Ruba Nadda Inescapable. Isa: Myriad. Canada: Alliance. Liz Garbus Love, Marilyn. Isa: StudioCanal. HBO picked up No. American TV rights. Madman has Australia. Gauri Shinde English Vinglish. Isa: Eros International.
Masters – 0 – Could we say that women directors have not been around that long or shown such longevity as the men? Lina Wertmiller was a long time ago. I don’t even know if she is still alive. Ida Lupino was an anomaly. Who else was there in those early days? Alice Guy-Blaché ?
Special Presentations - 13 out of 70 = 19%
Everybody Has A Plan - Argentina/ Germany/ Spain - Ana Piterbarg - Isa: Twentieth Century Fox International - U.S.: Ld Entertainment, U.K.: Metrodome Lines Of Wellington - Also in Venice, San Sebastian Ff - Portugal - Valeria Sarmiento - Isa: Alfama Films. Germany: Ksm Cloud Atlas--Germany - Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski - Isa: Focus Int'l. - U.S. and Canada: Warner Bros. , Brazil - Imagem, Finland - Future Film, Eastern Europe - Eeap, Germany X Verleih, Greece - Odeon, Iceland - Sensa, India - PVR, So. Korea - Bloomage, Benelux - Benelux Film Distributors, Inspire, Slovenia - Cenemania, Sweden - Noble, Switzerland - Ascot Elite, Taiwan - Long Shong, Turkey - Chantier Inch'allah – Canada - Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette - Isa and Canada: Entertainment One Films Hannah Arendt – Germany – Margarethe von Trotta – Isa: The Match Factory Imogine – U.S. – Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini - Isa: Voltage. U.S.: Lionsgate/ Roadside Attractions acquired from UTA, Netherlands: Independent Ginger and Rosa – U.K. – Sally Potter – Isa: The Match Factory. U.S. contact Cinetic Love is All You Need – Also played in Venice) Denmark – Susanne Bier – Isa: TrustNordisk - U.S. : Sony Pictures Classics, Canada: Mongrel, Australia - Madman, Brazil - Art Films, Bulgaria - Pro Films, Colombia - Babilla Cine, Czech Republic - Aerofilms, Finland - Matila Rohr Nordisk, Germany - Prokino, Hungary - Cirko, Italy - Teodora, Japan - Longride, Poland - Gutek, Portugal - Pepperview Lore – Australia/ Germany/ U.K. – Cate Shortland – Isa: Memento. U.S.: Music Box, France: Memento, Germany - Piffl, Hong Hong - Encore Inlight, So. Korea - Line Tree, Benelux - ABC/ Cinemien, U.K., Artificial Eye Dreams for Sale – Japan – Miwa Nishkawa – Isa: Asmik Ace Stories We Tell – Canada – Sarah Polley - Isa: Nfb. U.K.: Artificial Eye Liverpool – Canada – Marion Briand - Isa: Max Films. Canada: Remstar Venus and Serena – U.S./ U.K. – Michelle Major, Maikin Baird. Producer's Rep: Cinetic
Mavericks - 3 out of 7 “Conversations With” were with women (43%)
Discovery 11 out of 27 = 40% which includes The-Hottest-Public Ticket for the Israeli Film directly below (a Major Buzz Film Among its Public)
Fill the Void by Rama Burshtein, a first-time-ever Hasidic woman director Kate Melville’s Picture Day Alice Winocour Augustine - Isa: Kinology 7 Cajas by Tana Schembori from Paraguay - Isa: Shoreline Gabriela Pichler’s Eat Sleep Die from Sweden, Serbia and Croatia - Isa: Yellow Affair Oy Rola Nashef’s Detroit Unleaded France’s Sylive Michel’s Our Little Differences Contact producer Pallas Film Russian censored film Clip from Serbia by Maja Milos - Isa: Wide sold to Kmbo for France, Maywin for Sweden, Artspoitation for U.S. Satellite Boy by Australian Catriona McKenzie - Isa: Celluloid Dreams/ Nightmares Ramaa Mosley’s The Brass Teapot - Isa: TF1 sold to Magnolia for U.S., Intercontinental for Hong Kong, Cien for Mexico, Vendetta for New Zealand Veteran Korean-American Grace Lee’s Janeane from Des Moines.
Tiff Docs 7 out of 29 = 24% - Women traditionally have directed a greater portion of docs
Christine Cynn (codirector ) The Act of Killing - Isa: Cinephil Janet Tobias No Place on Earth - Isa: Global Screen Sarah Burns (codirector) The Central Park Five Isa: PBS sold to Sundance Select for U.S. Treva Wurmfeld Shepard & Dark - Contact Tangerine Entertainment Nina Davenport First Comes Love - Contact producer Marina Zenovich Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out - Isa: Films Distribution Halla Alabdalla As If We Were Catching a Cobra (Comme si nous attraptions un cobra) about the art of caricature in Egypt and Syria! Halla is Syrian herself, studied science and sociology in Syria and Paris - Isa: Wide
Contemporary World Cinema 11 out of 61 = 18%
Children of Sarajevo by Aida Begic, Sarajevo - Isa: Pyramide Baby Blues by Katarzyna Rostaniec, Poland. Contact producer The Cowards Who Looked to the Sky by Yuki Tanada, Japan - Isa: Toei Comrade Kim Goes Flying by Anja Daelemans (co-director), Belgium/ No. Korea. The first western financed film out of No. Korea Three Worlds by Catherine Corsini, France - Isa: Pyramide sold to Lumiere for Benelux, Pathe for Switzerland Middle of Nowhere by Ava DuVernay, U.S. - Contact Paradigm Talent Agency The Lesser Blessed by Anita Doron, Canada - Isa: eOne Watchtower by Pelin Esmer, Turkey/ France/ Germany- Isa: Visit Films Jackie by Antoinette Beumer, Netherlands - Isa: Media Luna When I Saw You by Annemarie Jacir, Palestine,/ Jordan/ Greece All that Matters is Past by Sara Johnsen, Norway- Isa: TrustNordisk
Tiff Kids 0 out of 5. Any meaning to this???
City To City – Mumbai 0 Out Of 10 Any meaning to this???
Vanguard 2 out of 15 = 13% (the average for most festivals)
90 Minutes– Norway – Eva Sorhaug - Isa: Level K Peaches Does Herself – Germany - Peaches. Contact producer. See Indiewire review.
Midnight Madness 0 out of 9 which is fine with me, thank you. This is a boy's genre or a date-night genre for girls and boys with a plan for the night.
In Toronto I was hyper aware of the women and their position in this corner of the world I inhabit. Canadian women, Helga Stephenson, Director Emerita of the Toronto Film Festival, predecessor to Piers Handling; Michele Maheux, Executive Director and COO of Tiff ever since I've known her which has been a long time; Linda Beath who headed United Artists when I was beginning my career and who has since moved to Europe where she teaches at Eave (European Audio Visual Entrepreneurs), Kay Armitrage, programmer of the festival for 24 years and professor at University of Toronto, are all women to helped me envisage myself as a professional in the film business, and they are still as vibrant and active as when we met more than 25 years ago. Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada’s Executive Director continues Canada’s female lineage as does Karen Thorne-Stone, the President and CEO of Ontario Media Development Corporation.
18 films currently are in a large part attributable to Omdc; they include Nisha Pahuja’s doc The World Before Her (contact Cinetic) (Best Doc Feature of 2012 Tribeca Ff), Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz (Isa: TF1), Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children (Isa: FilmNation), Anita Doron’s The Lesser Blessed, (Isa: EOne) Ruba Nadda’s Inescapable (Isa: Myriad), Alison Rose’s doc, Following the Wise Men.
Tiff’s new program for year-round support of mid-level Canadian filmmakers, Studio, under the directorship of Hayet Benkara is bringing industry mentorship to 16 filmmakers with experience, shorts in the festival circuit, features in development. Exactly half of these filmmakers are women. This was a conscious move on Hayet’s part. She said there is always such a predominance of males without thinking about it that she decided to bring balance.
Then a look at some more of the Canadian talent here brings me to the Birks Diamonds celebration of seven Canadian women: Anais Barbeau-Lavalette, Manon Briand, Anita Doron, Deepa Mehta (Midnight’s Children), Kate Melville, and Ruba Nadda which honored each with a Birks diamond pendant in a reception hosted by Shangri-La Hotel and Telefilm Canada where 300 guests mingled and caught up with each other. The pre-eminence of women was again made so apparent to me.
Talking to publicist Jim Dobson at Indie PR at the reception of Jordanian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir whose film When I Saw You was so evocative of the 60s, a time of worldwide freedom and even optimism among the fedayeem in Jordan looking to resist the Expulsion of the Palestinians from Palestine; he said that all five of his clients here are women directors, “I had When I Saw You, (Isa: The Match Factory), Satellite Boy (Isa: Celluloid Dreams/ Nightmare), Hannah Arendt (The Match Factory), Inch'allah (Isa: eOne), English Vinglish (Isa: Eros Int')."
Of the 289 features here at Tiff, Melissa Silverstein at Women and Hollywood is trying to zero in on the women directors, so watch her blogs More Women-Directed Films Nab Deals out of Tiff, Tiff Preview: Women Directors to Watch and Tiff Preview: The Female Directing Masters Playing at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival.
Add to this the upcoming Sundance initiative on women directors that Keri Putnam is heading up (more on that later!) and I am feeling heartened by the consciousness of women, directors and otherwise, out there. That is saying a lot since last season in Cannes with the pathetic number of women directors showing up in the festival and sidebars this past spring.
Here is the Female Factor for Tiff 12 which scores an A in my book:
Gala Presentations - 6 out of 20 = c. 30% which is way above the usual 13% which has been the average up until Cannes upended that with its paltry 2%..2 of these were opening night films.
Mira Nair The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Also showed in Venice. Isa: K5. Picked up for U.S. and Canada by IFC. Shola Lynch Free Angela & All Political Prisoners. Isa: Elle Driver Deepa Mehta Midnight’s Children. Isa: FilmNation already sold to Roadshow for Australia/ N.Z., Unikorea for So. Korea, DeaPlaneta for Spain. Ruba Nadda Inescapable. Isa: Myriad. Canada: Alliance. Liz Garbus Love, Marilyn. Isa: StudioCanal. HBO picked up No. American TV rights. Madman has Australia. Gauri Shinde English Vinglish. Isa: Eros International.
Masters – 0 – Could we say that women directors have not been around that long or shown such longevity as the men? Lina Wertmiller was a long time ago. I don’t even know if she is still alive. Ida Lupino was an anomaly. Who else was there in those early days? Alice Guy-Blaché ?
Special Presentations - 13 out of 70 = 19%
Everybody Has A Plan - Argentina/ Germany/ Spain - Ana Piterbarg - Isa: Twentieth Century Fox International - U.S.: Ld Entertainment, U.K.: Metrodome Lines Of Wellington - Also in Venice, San Sebastian Ff - Portugal - Valeria Sarmiento - Isa: Alfama Films. Germany: Ksm Cloud Atlas--Germany - Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski - Isa: Focus Int'l. - U.S. and Canada: Warner Bros. , Brazil - Imagem, Finland - Future Film, Eastern Europe - Eeap, Germany X Verleih, Greece - Odeon, Iceland - Sensa, India - PVR, So. Korea - Bloomage, Benelux - Benelux Film Distributors, Inspire, Slovenia - Cenemania, Sweden - Noble, Switzerland - Ascot Elite, Taiwan - Long Shong, Turkey - Chantier Inch'allah – Canada - Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette - Isa and Canada: Entertainment One Films Hannah Arendt – Germany – Margarethe von Trotta – Isa: The Match Factory Imogine – U.S. – Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini - Isa: Voltage. U.S.: Lionsgate/ Roadside Attractions acquired from UTA, Netherlands: Independent Ginger and Rosa – U.K. – Sally Potter – Isa: The Match Factory. U.S. contact Cinetic Love is All You Need – Also played in Venice) Denmark – Susanne Bier – Isa: TrustNordisk - U.S. : Sony Pictures Classics, Canada: Mongrel, Australia - Madman, Brazil - Art Films, Bulgaria - Pro Films, Colombia - Babilla Cine, Czech Republic - Aerofilms, Finland - Matila Rohr Nordisk, Germany - Prokino, Hungary - Cirko, Italy - Teodora, Japan - Longride, Poland - Gutek, Portugal - Pepperview Lore – Australia/ Germany/ U.K. – Cate Shortland – Isa: Memento. U.S.: Music Box, France: Memento, Germany - Piffl, Hong Hong - Encore Inlight, So. Korea - Line Tree, Benelux - ABC/ Cinemien, U.K., Artificial Eye Dreams for Sale – Japan – Miwa Nishkawa – Isa: Asmik Ace Stories We Tell – Canada – Sarah Polley - Isa: Nfb. U.K.: Artificial Eye Liverpool – Canada – Marion Briand - Isa: Max Films. Canada: Remstar Venus and Serena – U.S./ U.K. – Michelle Major, Maikin Baird. Producer's Rep: Cinetic
Mavericks - 3 out of 7 “Conversations With” were with women (43%)
Discovery 11 out of 27 = 40% which includes The-Hottest-Public Ticket for the Israeli Film directly below (a Major Buzz Film Among its Public)
Fill the Void by Rama Burshtein, a first-time-ever Hasidic woman director Kate Melville’s Picture Day Alice Winocour Augustine - Isa: Kinology 7 Cajas by Tana Schembori from Paraguay - Isa: Shoreline Gabriela Pichler’s Eat Sleep Die from Sweden, Serbia and Croatia - Isa: Yellow Affair Oy Rola Nashef’s Detroit Unleaded France’s Sylive Michel’s Our Little Differences Contact producer Pallas Film Russian censored film Clip from Serbia by Maja Milos - Isa: Wide sold to Kmbo for France, Maywin for Sweden, Artspoitation for U.S. Satellite Boy by Australian Catriona McKenzie - Isa: Celluloid Dreams/ Nightmares Ramaa Mosley’s The Brass Teapot - Isa: TF1 sold to Magnolia for U.S., Intercontinental for Hong Kong, Cien for Mexico, Vendetta for New Zealand Veteran Korean-American Grace Lee’s Janeane from Des Moines.
Tiff Docs 7 out of 29 = 24% - Women traditionally have directed a greater portion of docs
Christine Cynn (codirector ) The Act of Killing - Isa: Cinephil Janet Tobias No Place on Earth - Isa: Global Screen Sarah Burns (codirector) The Central Park Five Isa: PBS sold to Sundance Select for U.S. Treva Wurmfeld Shepard & Dark - Contact Tangerine Entertainment Nina Davenport First Comes Love - Contact producer Marina Zenovich Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out - Isa: Films Distribution Halla Alabdalla As If We Were Catching a Cobra (Comme si nous attraptions un cobra) about the art of caricature in Egypt and Syria! Halla is Syrian herself, studied science and sociology in Syria and Paris - Isa: Wide
Contemporary World Cinema 11 out of 61 = 18%
Children of Sarajevo by Aida Begic, Sarajevo - Isa: Pyramide Baby Blues by Katarzyna Rostaniec, Poland. Contact producer The Cowards Who Looked to the Sky by Yuki Tanada, Japan - Isa: Toei Comrade Kim Goes Flying by Anja Daelemans (co-director), Belgium/ No. Korea. The first western financed film out of No. Korea Three Worlds by Catherine Corsini, France - Isa: Pyramide sold to Lumiere for Benelux, Pathe for Switzerland Middle of Nowhere by Ava DuVernay, U.S. - Contact Paradigm Talent Agency The Lesser Blessed by Anita Doron, Canada - Isa: eOne Watchtower by Pelin Esmer, Turkey/ France/ Germany- Isa: Visit Films Jackie by Antoinette Beumer, Netherlands - Isa: Media Luna When I Saw You by Annemarie Jacir, Palestine,/ Jordan/ Greece All that Matters is Past by Sara Johnsen, Norway- Isa: TrustNordisk
Tiff Kids 0 out of 5. Any meaning to this???
City To City – Mumbai 0 Out Of 10 Any meaning to this???
Vanguard 2 out of 15 = 13% (the average for most festivals)
90 Minutes– Norway – Eva Sorhaug - Isa: Level K Peaches Does Herself – Germany - Peaches. Contact producer. See Indiewire review.
Midnight Madness 0 out of 9 which is fine with me, thank you. This is a boy's genre or a date-night genre for girls and boys with a plan for the night.
- 9/21/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Contemporary World Cinema in Toronto International Film Festival is screening the world premiere of The Lesser Blessed, directed by Anita Doron and starring Benjamin Bratt. High school is especially harsh for Larry Sole (Joel Nathan Evans), a teenaged metal-head living in a remote community in the Northwest Territories. Shy and ruminative, he’s taunted daily by his town’s golden boy and resident bully, Darcy (Adam Butcher). This is because of Larry’s tortured past, and his aboriginal roots: he, his mother Verna (Tamara Podemski) and her sometime boyfriend Jed (Benjamin Bratt) are all members of the Tlicho First Nation.
Director Anita Doron is remarkable in her own right. She was born in Transcarpathia, in the former Ussr, and later defected to Canada. Her first feature, The End of Silence (06) won the Best Feature Film award at the Canadian Filmmakers’ Festival. She was a co-director of the interactive feature Late Fragment (07), which played the Festival. Her other features include Europa, East (10), Mystico Fantástico! (11) and The Lesser Blessed (12).
In a brief roundtable discussion with Benjamin Bratt and three other reporters (from Berlin, Sydney and Budapest) and yours truly, Benjamin Bratt, looking as young as a teenager, spoke about his transition to pater familias in his own private life with Talisa Soto and thier two children as well as in his part in this film. He likes helping lead the way for the young who are ruderless, for the ones with no voice whose culture has been cut away unceremoniously from their lives by conquering civilizations.
He speaks for himself and his own Peruvian people (Qechua) when he begins to discuss the issue of disenfranchisement and how it affects the youth and how, as in this film, if they can be shown how to reconnect with their cultures then they can begin to open new pathways in their personal and social lives. His own mother, a native American activist, took her five children along when she was part of the Alcatraz prison takeover in 1970, so he has learned this from the cradle. When he saw the script to The Lesser Blessed, he immediately sent it to his brother Peter Bratt with a note saying that this is the sort of story he wishes he could make with his brother. He considers himself blessed for being able to sustain a television series which allows him to make the small independent features like The Lesser Blessed.
Director Anita Doron is remarkable in her own right. She was born in Transcarpathia, in the former Ussr, and later defected to Canada. Her first feature, The End of Silence (06) won the Best Feature Film award at the Canadian Filmmakers’ Festival. She was a co-director of the interactive feature Late Fragment (07), which played the Festival. Her other features include Europa, East (10), Mystico Fantástico! (11) and The Lesser Blessed (12).
In a brief roundtable discussion with Benjamin Bratt and three other reporters (from Berlin, Sydney and Budapest) and yours truly, Benjamin Bratt, looking as young as a teenager, spoke about his transition to pater familias in his own private life with Talisa Soto and thier two children as well as in his part in this film. He likes helping lead the way for the young who are ruderless, for the ones with no voice whose culture has been cut away unceremoniously from their lives by conquering civilizations.
He speaks for himself and his own Peruvian people (Qechua) when he begins to discuss the issue of disenfranchisement and how it affects the youth and how, as in this film, if they can be shown how to reconnect with their cultures then they can begin to open new pathways in their personal and social lives. His own mother, a native American activist, took her five children along when she was part of the Alcatraz prison takeover in 1970, so he has learned this from the cradle. When he saw the script to The Lesser Blessed, he immediately sent it to his brother Peter Bratt with a note saying that this is the sort of story he wishes he could make with his brother. He considers himself blessed for being able to sustain a television series which allows him to make the small independent features like The Lesser Blessed.
- 9/10/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Above: Ernie Gehr's Auto-Collider Xv.
The vast bulk of Tiff's 2012 has been announced and listed here, below. We'll be updating the lineup with the previous films announced, as well as updating links to specific films for more information on them in the coming days. Of particular note is that the Wavelengths and Visions programs have been combined to create what is undoubtedly the most interesting section of the festival. Stay tuned, too, for our own on the ground coverage of Tiff.
Galas
A Royal Affair (Nikolai Arcel, Demark/Sweden/Czech Republic/Germany)
Argo (Ben Affleck, USA)
The Company You Keep (Robert Redford, USA)
Dangerous Liaisons (Hur Jin-ho, China)
Emperor (Peter Webber, Japan/USA)
English Vinglish (Gauri Shinde, India)
Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (Shola Lynch)
Great Expectations (Mike Newell, UK)
Hyde Park on Hudson (Roger Michell, UK)
Inescapable (Ruba Nadda, Canada)
Jayne Mansfield's Car (Billy Bob Thorton, USA/Russia)
Looper (Rian Johnson,...
The vast bulk of Tiff's 2012 has been announced and listed here, below. We'll be updating the lineup with the previous films announced, as well as updating links to specific films for more information on them in the coming days. Of particular note is that the Wavelengths and Visions programs have been combined to create what is undoubtedly the most interesting section of the festival. Stay tuned, too, for our own on the ground coverage of Tiff.
Galas
A Royal Affair (Nikolai Arcel, Demark/Sweden/Czech Republic/Germany)
Argo (Ben Affleck, USA)
The Company You Keep (Robert Redford, USA)
Dangerous Liaisons (Hur Jin-ho, China)
Emperor (Peter Webber, Japan/USA)
English Vinglish (Gauri Shinde, India)
Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (Shola Lynch)
Great Expectations (Mike Newell, UK)
Hyde Park on Hudson (Roger Michell, UK)
Inescapable (Ruba Nadda, Canada)
Jayne Mansfield's Car (Billy Bob Thorton, USA/Russia)
Looper (Rian Johnson,...
- 8/22/2012
- MUBI
In the last major update for the Toronto International Film Festival 2012 slate, they’ve announced their Canadian features. The line-up includes Sarah Polley’s upcoming documentary Stories We Tell, coming off her Take This Waltz this summer (which also premiered at Tiff). The other major films include two we’ve seen at Cannes,one being Brandon Cronenberg‘s Antiviral, which premiered alongside his father’s Cosmopolis. We disliked it (full review), saying it came off as an “an amateurish, high-budget student film.” The other major title is Xavier Dolan‘s Laurence Anyways, which we loved (full review), calling it a major step forward for the filmmaker. Check out the rest of the titles below, which I’m sure will include many discoveries.
Antiviral Brandon Cronenberg, Canada/USA North American Premiere
Syd March is an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans.
Antiviral Brandon Cronenberg, Canada/USA North American Premiere
Syd March is an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans.
- 8/8/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Few films deal with the difficulties and uncertainties inherent in immigration. Anita Doron's The End of Silence is one of those films that promise a lot with their premise. However, it turns out to be clumsily developed film and a dull one.
In The End of Silence, world-class ballerina Ekaterina Chtchelkanova plays Darya, a Russian immigrant. In her native Russia, Darya was a ballerina working for a prestigious company. However, she decided to immigrate to Canada (precisely in Toronto). Once there, Darya finds it hard to adapt herself, because she barely speaks English.
However, she'll come across Eddie (John Tokatlidis), an antique store owner. This is the moment when, as the film's title suggests, both of them fall in love. Besides, Eddie also helps Darya to learn English by buying for her a Russian-English dictionary and by helping her to practice her English. Even though Eddie no longer lives with his ex-wife,...
In The End of Silence, world-class ballerina Ekaterina Chtchelkanova plays Darya, a Russian immigrant. In her native Russia, Darya was a ballerina working for a prestigious company. However, she decided to immigrate to Canada (precisely in Toronto). Once there, Darya finds it hard to adapt herself, because she barely speaks English.
However, she'll come across Eddie (John Tokatlidis), an antique store owner. This is the moment when, as the film's title suggests, both of them fall in love. Besides, Eddie also helps Darya to learn English by buying for her a Russian-English dictionary and by helping her to practice her English. Even though Eddie no longer lives with his ex-wife,...
- 5/6/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
Before going into my Women Directors Tracking which I have vowed to continue until women reach a parity with men in the film business and Latino Directors groove, I want to thank Howard Feinstein for watching the most obscure films of Rotterdam to find the jewels! Scratching Below the Surface for Some Rotterdam Fest Gems - indieWIRE. Kudos! I wish I could have seen these!
Howard spotted this one: "A young woman named Rusudan Pirveli brought to the 'Bright Future' section Susa, another story of hard financial times. 'The Lost Generation' is represented here by the absent father of an adolescent boy, who, working for his mother, sells bootleg vodka in bottles. Sadly, he lives under the delusion that dad’s return would ease his and his mom’s hardship. Like Koguashvili, Pirveli eschews unnecessary authorial intervention: Both directors understand all too well that they are living amidst powerful,...
Howard spotted this one: "A young woman named Rusudan Pirveli brought to the 'Bright Future' section Susa, another story of hard financial times. 'The Lost Generation' is represented here by the absent father of an adolescent boy, who, working for his mother, sells bootleg vodka in bottles. Sadly, he lives under the delusion that dad’s return would ease his and his mom’s hardship. Like Koguashvili, Pirveli eschews unnecessary authorial intervention: Both directors understand all too well that they are living amidst powerful,...
- 2/10/2010
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
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