Viewers will probably know whether “I’ll Find You” is of interest just from hearing one typical line of dialogue: “No matter what happens,” our handsome Catholic hero promises his beloved Jewish girlfriend when the Nazis invade Poland, ‘We’ll always be together.’”
It’s not much of a spoiler to say that this World War II drama is also an unabashedly old-fashioned romance. But it’s nice to be able to add that — thanks to the expertise of director Martha Coolidge — it’s a particularly polished one.
Violinists Rachel Rubin and Robert Pulaski meet as children, while attending a prestigious music school in Lodz run by Lena (Connie Nielsen).
In time-honored tradition, they see each other as competitors and spend all their time sparring until they finally realize how much they have in common. They are inseparable for years, until Robert leaves to study opera in Italy, and Rachel is pushed,...
It’s not much of a spoiler to say that this World War II drama is also an unabashedly old-fashioned romance. But it’s nice to be able to add that — thanks to the expertise of director Martha Coolidge — it’s a particularly polished one.
Violinists Rachel Rubin and Robert Pulaski meet as children, while attending a prestigious music school in Lodz run by Lena (Connie Nielsen).
In time-honored tradition, they see each other as competitors and spend all their time sparring until they finally realize how much they have in common. They are inseparable for years, until Robert leaves to study opera in Italy, and Rachel is pushed,...
- 2/24/2022
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
"I didn't come all this way just to sing." Gravitas Ventures has debuted the official trailer for I'll Find You, a WWII romantic thriller formerly known as Music, War and Love. This one originally premiered back in 2019 at numerous film festivals, and it's finally getting a VOD release this year. Inspired by true stories of Polish musicians from the 1930 & 1940s. Two young lovers, Robert (Leo Suter), a talented Catholic opera singer and Rachel (Adelaide Clemens), a Jewish violin virtuoso, dream of one day performing together at legendary Carnegie Hall. When they're torn apart by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, Robert vows to find Rachel, no matter what, taking him all the way into Germany. Also starring Stellan Skarsgard, Stephen Dorff, Connie Nielsen, Ursula Parker, Sebastian Croft, and Toby Sebastian. This reminds me of so many other films set during WWII, including The Song of Names most recently also about a Polish violinist.
- 2/1/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Few conversations that start with “I got this friend” tend to end well, especially in the world of crime-centric filmmaking. In Ed Blythe’s upcoming “Man With Van,” that proves true from the jump.
The film follows down-on-his-luck construction electrician Kier Sawicki (Morgan Spector, “The Mist”), who bumbles into professional arson to provide for his daughter (Ursula Parker, “Louie”) amidst a bitter custody dispute. It’s clearly a fraught idea from the start — as seen in our exclusive clip below — but Kier is hopeful that the so-called victimless crime will pay. It doesn’t, and there is definitely a victim.
Read MoreHow One NYC Event Can Turn Promising Ideas For New Indies Into a Reality
Blythe’s film explodes out Kier’s bad luck, pitting him against his best friend and their bad-mannered boss, forcing his ex-wife to go to wild legal ends, and pushing him into yet another ill-fated scheme.
The film follows down-on-his-luck construction electrician Kier Sawicki (Morgan Spector, “The Mist”), who bumbles into professional arson to provide for his daughter (Ursula Parker, “Louie”) amidst a bitter custody dispute. It’s clearly a fraught idea from the start — as seen in our exclusive clip below — but Kier is hopeful that the so-called victimless crime will pay. It doesn’t, and there is definitely a victim.
Read MoreHow One NYC Event Can Turn Promising Ideas For New Indies Into a Reality
Blythe’s film explodes out Kier’s bad luck, pitting him against his best friend and their bad-mannered boss, forcing his ex-wife to go to wild legal ends, and pushing him into yet another ill-fated scheme.
- 7/28/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Louie‘s Ursula Parker and Miguel Pinzon (Mystery Girls) are set as series regulars opposite Annie Mumolo in Amy's Brother, Fox's single-camera comedy produced by the husband-and-wife duo of Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone and Warner Bros TV. Written and co-executive produced by Jim Cashman (Saturday Night Live) and Mitch Silpa (Bridesmaids), and directed by Beth McCarthy Miller, Amy's Brother is about an unconventional family that is formed when a successful type-a man…...
- 3/10/2017
- Deadline TV
When it comes to their original television, Netflix is killing it. Whether it’s House of Cards or BoJack Horseman, the streaming site has continued to provide astounding, award-winning television on a near monthly basis. If only their original movies stood as high. While they’ve acquired some noteworthy features, including Beasts of No Nation and The Little Prince, the films they’ve produced themselves from the ground-up continuously fail to live up to their impeccable television standards. While it’s encouraging to see them venture into the sci-fi genre with Spectral, unfortunately, it doesn’t fare much better as it’s yet another rousing disappointment for the multi-platform company.
When a mysterious force kills some of the world’s most powerful soldiers, Dr. Clyne (James Badge Dale), who’s among the top in his field, is sent to Europe by the government in order to discover what the disturbance might be.
When a mysterious force kills some of the world’s most powerful soldiers, Dr. Clyne (James Badge Dale), who’s among the top in his field, is sent to Europe by the government in order to discover what the disturbance might be.
- 12/9/2016
- by Will Ashton
- We Got This Covered
Once set to be a wide release this past summer from Universal, they handed over the supernatural war film Spectral to Netflix, who will drop it next week. Not one for extensive marketing campaigns, the company has now released the first trailer for the film which follows a group of soldiers who are defending a city from an otherworldly force.
While its different elements look familiar, seeing sci-fi mashed up with a Black Hawk Down-esque scenario may prove to be entertaining. Add in the talents of James Badge Dale, Emily Mortimer, and Bruce Greenwood, and maybe this can be a respite from the fairly lackluster year of action cinema.
Directing by Nic Mathieu and also starring Max Martini, Clayne Crawford, Cory Hardict, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Jimmy Akingbola, Dylan Smith, Philip Bulcock, Royce Pierreson, Ursula Parker, and Mark O’Neal, check out the trailer below ahead of next week’s release.
While its different elements look familiar, seeing sci-fi mashed up with a Black Hawk Down-esque scenario may prove to be entertaining. Add in the talents of James Badge Dale, Emily Mortimer, and Bruce Greenwood, and maybe this can be a respite from the fairly lackluster year of action cinema.
Directing by Nic Mathieu and also starring Max Martini, Clayne Crawford, Cory Hardict, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Jimmy Akingbola, Dylan Smith, Philip Bulcock, Royce Pierreson, Ursula Parker, and Mark O’Neal, check out the trailer below ahead of next week’s release.
- 12/2/2016
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Soldiers face a supernatural threat that's difficult to gun down in the official trailer for the paranormal military thriller Spectral.
Synopsis: "When an otherworldly force wreaks havoc on a war-torn European city, an engineer teams up with an elite Special Ops unit to stop it."
Directed by Nic Mathieu from a screenplay by Ian Fried, John Gatins, Jamie Moss, and George Nolfi, Spectral stars James Badge Dale, Max Martini, Emily Mortimer, Bruce Greenwood, Dylan Smith, Clayne Crawford, Royce Pierreson, Cory Hardict, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Jimmy Akingbola, Philip Bulcock, Ursula Parker, and Mark O’Neal.
Spectral will be released on the streaming service Netflix on Friday, December 9th.
The post Watch the Trailer for Netflix’s Supernatural Combat Film Spectral appeared first on Daily Dead.
Synopsis: "When an otherworldly force wreaks havoc on a war-torn European city, an engineer teams up with an elite Special Ops unit to stop it."
Directed by Nic Mathieu from a screenplay by Ian Fried, John Gatins, Jamie Moss, and George Nolfi, Spectral stars James Badge Dale, Max Martini, Emily Mortimer, Bruce Greenwood, Dylan Smith, Clayne Crawford, Royce Pierreson, Cory Hardict, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Jimmy Akingbola, Philip Bulcock, Ursula Parker, and Mark O’Neal.
Spectral will be released on the streaming service Netflix on Friday, December 9th.
The post Watch the Trailer for Netflix’s Supernatural Combat Film Spectral appeared first on Daily Dead.
- 12/2/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
River of No Return: Sobel Brings Scent of Southern Gothic to the Mid-West with Stellar Debut
Family reunions have tremendous potential as battlefields for dysfunctional reparations, and provide easy arenas for comedy or drama to flourish. Director Matt Sobel draws upon the decidedly uncomfortable sort with his debut, Take Me to the River, an astute collision of adolescent anguish, coming-out suppression, and rural redneck nightmare all rolled into a flammable powder keg that leaks incendiary fumes but never builds to explosive relief. Age old juxtapositions, such as the sinful worldliness of Californians vs. corn-fed Midwestern white values, are enhanced by the dramatic charge of queer tensions Sobel compellingly conjures. Sure to make you squirm thanks to a reservoir of debauched sexuality lurking underneath the thin veneer of respectable propriety, Sobel culls a handful of startlingly realistic performances from a fine cast.
17-year-old Ryder (Logan Miller) is on his way...
Family reunions have tremendous potential as battlefields for dysfunctional reparations, and provide easy arenas for comedy or drama to flourish. Director Matt Sobel draws upon the decidedly uncomfortable sort with his debut, Take Me to the River, an astute collision of adolescent anguish, coming-out suppression, and rural redneck nightmare all rolled into a flammable powder keg that leaks incendiary fumes but never builds to explosive relief. Age old juxtapositions, such as the sinful worldliness of Californians vs. corn-fed Midwestern white values, are enhanced by the dramatic charge of queer tensions Sobel compellingly conjures. Sure to make you squirm thanks to a reservoir of debauched sexuality lurking underneath the thin veneer of respectable propriety, Sobel culls a handful of startlingly realistic performances from a fine cast.
17-year-old Ryder (Logan Miller) is on his way...
- 3/14/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
To give you a sense of the usually extended process it takes from some independent features to make their way to screens, we just wrapped up 2016’s Sundance Film Festival, but today brings news of one from last year finally set to arrive. Take Me to The River marks the first feature from Matt Sobel, depicting a strange family reunion with twists and turns. Starring Logan Miller, Robin Weigert, Josh Hamilton, Ursula Parker, Richard Schiff, and Azura Skye, we also have the first trailer ahead of a release next month.
We said in our review, “A strong, quiet and confident debut feature, Take Me to the River announces the arrival of its writer-director Matt Sobel, whose first feature shows quite a command of his storytelling. Aided by the editing of Jacob Secher Schulsinger (Force Majeure), each scene builds a unique rhythm and tension and we’re not quite sure where...
We said in our review, “A strong, quiet and confident debut feature, Take Me to the River announces the arrival of its writer-director Matt Sobel, whose first feature shows quite a command of his storytelling. Aided by the editing of Jacob Secher Schulsinger (Force Majeure), each scene builds a unique rhythm and tension and we’re not quite sure where...
- 2/4/2016
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
At last year's Sundance Film Festival, writer/director Matt Sobel debuted "Take Me To The River," a picture that has gotten under the skin of anyone who saw it —the drama centers around a family reunion where something has undeniably gone wrong. Read More: Sundance Review: 'Take Me To The River' Features Solid Performances In A Genuinely Peculiar Film Starring Logan Miller, Robin Weigert, Josh Hamilton, Richard Schiff, Ursula Parker and Azura Skye, the film follows Ryder, who is not yet out of the closet due to his buttoned down extended family. However, when an incident happens with nine year-old Molly, accusations and assumptions regarding Ryder soon start flying. Here's the synopsis: Sobel's assured directorial debut is the story of Ryder, an artsy, confident California teen who is heading to Nebraska for a family reunion. After planning to come out to his conservative relatives, he holds off at his mother's.
- 2/2/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Film Movement has acquired North American rights to Take Me To The River, the debut feature of Matt Sobel that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. A theatrical release is planned for January 2016. Sobel's coming-of-age drama follows a California teen (Logan Miller) who travels to a family reunion in Nebraska where a series of events places him in the middle of a dark family secret. Robin Weigert, Josh Hamilton, Richard Schiff and Ursula Parker co-star. The…...
- 7/8/2015
- Deadline
Torrey DeVitto of The Vampire Diaries, Mike Doyle and Ursula Parker have joined Monolith Pictures’ psychological thriller that has commenced principal photography in Dutchess County in upstate New York.
Josh Sternfeld directs Amy Makes Three from his screenplay about a grief-stricken young couple who confront the ghost of their first child.
Michael Goodin produces for Monolith and Scott Kluge for Tremendous Entertainment.
Sternfeld’s previous works includes the 2010 crime thriller Meskada and 2004 drama Winter Solstice.
Devitto (pictured) is best known for her roles in Army Wives, Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries.
Doyle has appeared in Jersey Boys and Green Lantern, while Parker’s credits include Louie.
Josh Sternfeld directs Amy Makes Three from his screenplay about a grief-stricken young couple who confront the ghost of their first child.
Michael Goodin produces for Monolith and Scott Kluge for Tremendous Entertainment.
Sternfeld’s previous works includes the 2010 crime thriller Meskada and 2004 drama Winter Solstice.
Devitto (pictured) is best known for her roles in Army Wives, Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries.
Doyle has appeared in Jersey Boys and Green Lantern, while Parker’s credits include Louie.
- 6/24/2015
- ScreenDaily
Torrey DeVitto of The Vampire Diaries, Mike Doyle and Ursula Parker have joined Monolith Pictures’ psychological thriller that has commenced principal photography in Dutchess County in upstate New York.
Josh Sternfeld directs Amy Make Three from his screenplay about a grief-stricken young couple who confront the ghost of their first child.
Michael Goodin produces for Monolith and Scott Kluge for Tremendous Entertainment.
Sternfeld’s previous works includes the 2010 crime thriller Meskada and 2004 drama Winter Solstice.
Devitto (pictured) is best known for her roles in Army Wives, Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries.
Doyle has appeared in Jersey Boys and Green Lantern, while Parker’s credits include Louie.
Josh Sternfeld directs Amy Make Three from his screenplay about a grief-stricken young couple who confront the ghost of their first child.
Michael Goodin produces for Monolith and Scott Kluge for Tremendous Entertainment.
Sternfeld’s previous works includes the 2010 crime thriller Meskada and 2004 drama Winter Solstice.
Devitto (pictured) is best known for her roles in Army Wives, Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries.
Doyle has appeared in Jersey Boys and Green Lantern, while Parker’s credits include Louie.
- 6/24/2015
- ScreenDaily
The network TV season ended last week, which means we're diving deep into Emmy campaigning season. The official Emmy ballot gets sent to TV Academy members in early June, and in the meantime, networks and studios are doing their best to put on good faces for potential voters, sometimes with elaborate screener packages, sometimes with For Your Consideration panels featuring the creators and stars of their shows. Last week, I moderated one of those for "Transparent," and last night, I got to do the same for "Louie," sitting down for a conversation with Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon after the audience got to watch this season's "Bobby's House" and the nightmare-fueled "Untitled." While some of these panels are recorded and later made available to the public (I believe that's the plan with the "Transparent" one), FX didn't film this. But it was memorable enough — particularly since C.K. doesn't do...
- 5/28/2015
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
Louie, Season 5, Episode 2: “A La Carte”
Written by Louis C.K. (story by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K.)
Directed by Louis C.K.
Airs Thursdays at 10:30pm Et on FX
The whole point of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype is that she can’t exist without a vapid man to mythologize her first; she can’t be pictured in an empty room. She materializes, either as a concept or a flesh-and-blood person, when the man in question requires definition, meaning, purpose, to fill the void of his otherwise meaningless existence. Her quirkiness and idiosyncrasies make her a “challenge” to be conquered; his successful pursuit of the Mpdg acts as an imagined trial-by-fire, with him as the admirably wounded victor. Like most archetypal stories, the Mpdg quest/relationship reveals a lot about some elements of straight male society. The need to gamify and narrativize the act of falling in love,...
Written by Louis C.K. (story by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K.)
Directed by Louis C.K.
Airs Thursdays at 10:30pm Et on FX
The whole point of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype is that she can’t exist without a vapid man to mythologize her first; she can’t be pictured in an empty room. She materializes, either as a concept or a flesh-and-blood person, when the man in question requires definition, meaning, purpose, to fill the void of his otherwise meaningless existence. Her quirkiness and idiosyncrasies make her a “challenge” to be conquered; his successful pursuit of the Mpdg acts as an imagined trial-by-fire, with him as the admirably wounded victor. Like most archetypal stories, the Mpdg quest/relationship reveals a lot about some elements of straight male society. The need to gamify and narrativize the act of falling in love,...
- 4/17/2015
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
Four episodes of the fifth season of “Louie” were provided for review purposes prior to broadcast.
The fourth season of Louie, which aired last spring, should have been a shoo-in for the top Emmy; however, it may have been a more appropriate winner for drama series than comedy. That collection of 14 episodes was wildly different from anything creator Louis C.K. had ever attempted on his FX sitcom, which was already wildly different from any other scripted comedy on television. With episodes making brutally honest observations about teenage drug use, sexual assault and plus-sized people, Louie experimented with subject matter and style each week. It was both the most indulgent and most intelligent that the show had ever been, with several benchmarks of unflinching, bruised humor (such as “In the Woods,” his 70-minute opus) that C.K. may never touch again.
Where season four was audacious, season five – returning for a shorter,...
The fourth season of Louie, which aired last spring, should have been a shoo-in for the top Emmy; however, it may have been a more appropriate winner for drama series than comedy. That collection of 14 episodes was wildly different from anything creator Louis C.K. had ever attempted on his FX sitcom, which was already wildly different from any other scripted comedy on television. With episodes making brutally honest observations about teenage drug use, sexual assault and plus-sized people, Louie experimented with subject matter and style each week. It was both the most indulgent and most intelligent that the show had ever been, with several benchmarks of unflinching, bruised humor (such as “In the Woods,” his 70-minute opus) that C.K. may never touch again.
Where season four was audacious, season five – returning for a shorter,...
- 4/9/2015
- by Jordan Adler
- We Got This Covered
Stockholm, Pennsylvania
Every year, the Sundance Film Festival finds itself packed with several promising features, filled with established performers and breakout stars, and filmmakers screening their first feature alongside veterans of the profession. One of the unfortunate downsides of such a rich array of features, however, is that not every film is able to secure a distributor during the length of the festival, regardless of how intriguing or well-made they are. Here are ten features from the 2015 incarnation of the festival that found themselves without distribution, but which hopefully do become available to the non-festival viewing audience at some point. As with past incarnations of this list, the films are in alphabetical order.
1) Advantageous
The science fiction genre has often allowed filmmakers to explore current day issues in allegory form, allowing them to dig into what causes societal concerns by viewing it from a different perspective. In that sense, Jennifer Phang...
Every year, the Sundance Film Festival finds itself packed with several promising features, filled with established performers and breakout stars, and filmmakers screening their first feature alongside veterans of the profession. One of the unfortunate downsides of such a rich array of features, however, is that not every film is able to secure a distributor during the length of the festival, regardless of how intriguing or well-made they are. Here are ten features from the 2015 incarnation of the festival that found themselves without distribution, but which hopefully do become available to the non-festival viewing audience at some point. As with past incarnations of this list, the films are in alphabetical order.
1) Advantageous
The science fiction genre has often allowed filmmakers to explore current day issues in allegory form, allowing them to dig into what causes societal concerns by viewing it from a different perspective. In that sense, Jennifer Phang...
- 2/9/2015
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
Take Me To The River (2015) Film Review from the 37th Annual Sundance Film Festival, a movie directed by Matt Sobel, starring Logan Miller, Robin Weigert, Josh Hamilton, Richard Schiff, Ursula Parker, and Azura Skye. In the world created by director and screenwriter, Matt Sobel, what’s most important is what’s [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: Take Me To The River: The Family Reunion From Hell [Sff 2015]...
Continue reading: Film Review: Take Me To The River: The Family Reunion From Hell [Sff 2015]...
- 2/6/2015
- by Drew Stelter
- Film-Book
A gay teen, molestation, funny sunglasses – this debut from Matt Sobel ticks all the dysfunctional-indie boxes. But certain tense scenes suggest a bright future for the director
If they ever handed out bingo cards at the Sundance film festival, Take Me to the River would cover the board in no time. You’ve got the gay teen, angry redneck relative, implications of molestation, funny sunglasses and a pop song on the soundtrack that seems to arrive from nowhere. This is not by any means a good movie, but there are a few key moments that crackle, suggesting that first time film-maker Matt Sobel may come back with something more worthwhile some day.
Logan Miller plays Ryder, a good-natured gay teen from Los Angeles joining his parents on a trip to his mother’s family reunion in Nebraska. Mom (Robin Weigert) asks Ryder to play down his homosexuality – not to lie,...
If they ever handed out bingo cards at the Sundance film festival, Take Me to the River would cover the board in no time. You’ve got the gay teen, angry redneck relative, implications of molestation, funny sunglasses and a pop song on the soundtrack that seems to arrive from nowhere. This is not by any means a good movie, but there are a few key moments that crackle, suggesting that first time film-maker Matt Sobel may come back with something more worthwhile some day.
Logan Miller plays Ryder, a good-natured gay teen from Los Angeles joining his parents on a trip to his mother’s family reunion in Nebraska. Mom (Robin Weigert) asks Ryder to play down his homosexuality – not to lie,...
- 1/23/2015
- by Jordan Hoffman
- The Guardian - Film News
For the more adventurous viewer, the Sundance Film Festival’s Next section is where it’s at, and where some of the most creative filmmaking discoveries come from. Last year gave us Ana Lily Amirpour's "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" (with the director since setting up her next movie at Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures), Desiree Akhavan's "Appropriate Behavior" and Gillian Robespierre’s “Obvious Child” which became a big indie comedy hit last year, among others. We don’t yet know what will stand out this year, but one strong contender, mentioned in our Most Anticipated Sundance 2015 Film Fest picks, is Matt Sobel’s “Take Me To The River.” A movie about secrets and the layers of misunderstanding and misperceptions between family, “Take Me To The River” is also a little bit like a mysterious waking dream. Starring up-and-comer Logan Miller, Robin Weigert (Sundance drama “Concussion”), Josh Hamilton,...
- 1/21/2015
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
You may think you like Louis C.K., but you don't like him as much as FX does. Sunday (January 18) morning's FX Television Critics Association press tour day began with a trio of Louis C.K.-centric releases: "Louie" returns on April 9. Louis C.K.'s next stand-up special will have its debut on FX. And FX has ordered a comedy pilot from "Louie" veteran Pamela Adlon that will be co-written, directed and produced by Louis C.K. Oh and the Louis C.K.-produced comedy "Baskets" will premiere in 2016. And now it's time for Louis C.K. to meet with reporters. Click through a follow along... 2:15 p.m. Pacific. Pamela Adlon seems to be joining Louis C.K. on this panel, in part because she's an important part of the show, but also so that Louis doesn't feel lonely on the stage. 2:24 p.m. "Louie" hasn't begun production, so we're starting with the opening from last season.
- 1/18/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
John Nein was not always a Senior Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival — it’s only been eight years. When he began at Sundance in 2002 he was always watching movies of course. More than that, like John Cooper said, he just didn’t shut up when he was in the room; he was opinionated and spoke his opinions. He also always liked international cinema as he was born in Ireland and grew up in The Netherlands, Belgium and London where his father worked for international companies. When he was 12 he came to the U.S.
The programmers at Sundance do not have a strict formal assignment of areas they program; they see all the films of all the sections, but like his father, international was always of great interest. The same is true for myself, although out of the 118 feature films selected out of 4,105 feature length submissions, many of the U.S. films look great to me as well. For instance, I am so happy that Matt Sobel’s “ Take Me To The River ” which won the prize at Us in Progress this past November in Wroclaw, Poland at The American Film Festival is in the Next section.
John: This year on Day One, January 22, 2015, the Festival will feature one of each type of film shown at the Festival: one shorts program, a U.S. documentary, a U.S. dramatic, an international documentary and an international dramatic which will be the first ever Lithuanian film in Competition, a lesbian love story that is stylish and smartly directed by Alanté Kavaïté with two fantastic actors, Julija Steponaitytė and Aistė Diržiūtė. Actually " The Summer of Sangaile” is a coproduction of Lithuania, France, and Holland . I think Alanté lives in France.
There ares 29 countries represented and 45 first-time filmmakers.
Sydney: I know the Chileans love Sundance. Last year Alejandro Fernández Almendras said in our interview about “To Kill a Man” that Sundance is very important for Chile. I am also a longtime fan of Sebastian Silva since “The Maid”. Two years ago he had two films, “Crystal Fairy” and “Magic, Magic” in Sundance, so why is this Chilean film not in World Competition but in Next?
John: I’m glad Alejandro said that. Yes we like Chile too. They make many good films. But “Nasty Baby” by Sebastian Silva is a U.S. film, about people living in Brooklyn.
He lives in U.S. and has spent a lot of time here. He knows Brooklyn and yet his curiosity and his view of it is that of an outsider. He knows these people because he watches and listens so well. “
Sydney: “Bridesmaids” star and co-writer Kristen Wiig stars. A short promo of “Nasty Baby” was shown to buyers while it was in post-production in Cannes and Toronto. The Chilean production company of Juan de Dios Larrain and Pablo Larrain, Fabula, produced “No” as well as Sebastian’s later films. Papi Boye and Violaine Pichon’s production and international sales agent Versatile out of France along with the film’s international sales agent Funny Balloons — also based in France – helped finance this U.S. Production.
John: World Cinema is now 10 years old. Overall, the Competition sections have evolved over the years. We have a sense of emerging directors here. We have come of age.
All our films are of emerging filmmakers. Either first time directors or highly anticipated second or third features. Of all the festivals worldwide, Sundance has the strongest program of emerging talent. Watch these filmmakers over the next years. Like “Homesick” by Anna Sewitsky. Her previous film “Happy, Happy” showed at Sundance in 2011 and took the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema. “Happy, Happy” also became the Norwegian Official entry for the Academy Awards® .
Sydney: TrustNordisk sold “Happy, Happy” to more than 50 countries, so they must be poised to sell this one as well.
John: But not all the second and third films are from filmmakers whose first films were at Sundance, although Canada’s “ Chorus” director Francois Delisle showed “The Meteor” at Sundance two years ago.
And “Glassland”, was a very anticipated second film. The first film by director and screenwriter, Gerard Barrett, "Pilgrim Hill” won the Galway Film Festival and was very sought after and was signed with a U.S. agent then. “Sangaile" is also a second feature.
Look at the international films in the Premieres section and you will see some international filmmakers there, like “ Brooklyn” which is an immigrant story directed by John Crowley and written by Nick Hornby whose film “Wild” is now playing .
Sydney: I see from IMDbPro that Hanway has already sold Middle Eastern rights to Front Row Entertainment who must have pre-bought “Brooklyn” in Cannes or Toronto.
John: Of the 12 films in World Cinema the less expected films come from Turkey, “Ivy” by the talented director Tolga Karacelik. This is his second film. His first was “Toll Booth” which Global Initiative distributed in the U.S. The Dp on this was Nuri Bilge Ceylan (“Winter’s Sleep”)’s Dp on “Winter’s Sleep”, Gökhan Tiryaki. It is about guys stuck on a freighter whose company goes bankrupt. Power dynamics play out.
Sydney: Have there been Oscar nominated films in Sundance (Aside from “Whiplash” and “Boyhood”)?
John: Yes, “Man on Wire” was not last year but it was foreign. “Ida” was in Spotlight last year and maybe Sundance increased its visibility. Three others were in Sundance last year:
“To Kill a Man” is Chile’s submission, “Difret” which won the Audience Award is Ethiopia’s submission this year and “Liar’s Dice” from India was in World Competition last year. It is a very artful film. We knew it would do well with the critics, but it did extremely well with the audience too. A couple of films in Spotlight will probably be nominated next year. Watch for them.
Sydney : We haven’t even discussed the World documentaries.
John : Are there any that stand out for you?
Sydney: Yes, “Chuck Norris vs. Communism”, from U.K., Romania and Germany. Chuck Norris?
John: How interesting it is that something like Chuck Norris means something very different to others. It is a sign of cultural differences between us. Chuck Norris shows how independent films built a community of counter culture against an authoritarian government.
Sydney: I also notice that there are six docs from the U.K. Out of 12 films.
John: Yes we noticed and discussed that. U.K. really supports documentary filmmaking. Great work is coming out of the U.K. And many of the films are about different countries, so it doesn’t fit so simply into a U.K. pigeon hole.
Sydney : Yes I see “Chuck Norris” is about Romania, “Dreamcatcher” is about teenage prostitution, “How to Change the World” is about Greenpeace, “Listen to Me Marlon” is about a famous U.S. actor, “The Russian Woodpecker” is about a Ukrainian survivor of Chernobyl.
Thank you John for your insights. I think we have a lot to look at here. Thank you for taking this time to talk with me. See you at Sundance!
For a full list thus far of Sundance films, see below.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Advantageous / U.S.A. (Director: Jennifer Phang, Screenwriters: Jacqueline Kim, Jennifer Phang) — In a near-future city where soaring opulence overshadows economic hardship, Gwen and her daughter, Jules, do all they can to hold on to their joy, despite the instability surfacing in their world. Cast: Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Freya Adams, Ken Jeong, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Kim.
The Bronze / U.S.A. (Director: Bryan Buckley, Screenwriters: Melissa Rauch, Winston Rauch) — In 2004, Hope Ann Greggory became an American hero after winning the bronze medal for the women's gymnastics team. Today, she's still living in her small hometown, washed-up and embittered. Stuck in the past, Hope must reassess her life when a promising young gymnast threatens her local celebrity status.Cast: Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch, Sebastian Stan, Haley Lu Richardson, Cecily Strong. Day One Film
The D Train / U.S.A. (Directors and screenwriters: Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel) — With his 20th reunion looming, Dan can’t shake his high school insecurities. In a misguided mission to prove he's changed, Dan rekindles a friendship with the popular guy from his class and is left scrambling to protect more than just his reputation when a wild night takes an unexpected turn. Cast: Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike White, Kyle Bornheimer.
The Diary of a Teenage Girl / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Marielle Heller) — Minnie Goetze is a 15-year-old aspiring comic-book artist, coming of age in the haze of the 1970s in San Francisco. Insatiably curious about the world around her, Minnie is a pretty typical teenage girl. Oh, except that she's sleeping with her mother's boyfriend. Cast: Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Christopher Meloni, Kristen Wiig.
Dope / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Rick Famuyiwa) — Malcolm is carefully surviving life in a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles while juggling college applications, academic interviews, and the Sat. A chance invitation to an underground party leads him into an adventure that could allow him to go from being a geek, to being dope, to ultimately being himself. Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Blake Anderson, Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky.
I Smile Back / U.S.A. (Director: Adam Salky, Screenwriters: Amy Koppelman, Paige Dylan) — All is not right in suburbia. Laney Brooks, a wife and mother on the edge, has stopped taking her meds, substituting recreational drugs and the wrong men. With the destruction of her family looming, Laney makes a last, desperate attempt at redemption. Cast: Sarah Silverman, Josh Charles, Thomas Sadoski, Mia Barron, Terry Kinney, Chris Sarandon.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl / U.S.A. (Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Screenwriter: Jesse Andrews) — Greg is coasting through senior year of high school as anonymously as possible, avoiding social interactions like the plague while secretly making spirited, bizarre films with Earl, his only friend. But both his anonymity and friendship threaten to unravel when his mother forces him to befriend a classmate with leukemia. Cast: Thomas Mann, Rj Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, Molly Shannon.
The Overnight / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Patrick Brice) — Alex, Emily, and their son, Rj, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family "playdate" becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on. Cast: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godrèche.
People, Places, Things / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: James C. Strouse) — Will Henry is a newly single graphic novelist balancing being a parent to his young twin daughters and teaching a classroom full of college students, all the while trying to navigate the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him. Cast: Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Stephanie Allynne, Jessica Williams, Gia Gadsby, Aundrea Gadsby.
Results / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Bujalski) — Two mismatched personal trainers' lives are upended by the actions of a new, wealthy client. Cast: Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan, Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Michael Hall, Brooklyn Decker.
Songs My Brothers Taught Me / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Chloé Zhao) — This complex portrait of modern-day life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation explores the bond between a brother and his younger sister, who find themselves on separate paths to rediscovering the meaning of home. Cast: John Reddy, Jashaun St. John, Irene Bedard, Taysha Fuller, Travis Lone Hill, Eléonore Hendricks.
The Stanford Prison Experiment / U.S.A. (Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Screenwriter: Tim Talbott) — This film is based on the actual events that took place in 1971 when Stanford professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo created what became one of the most shocking and famous social experiments of all time. Cast: Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, Tye Sheridan, Johnny Simmons, Olivia Thirlby.
Stockholm, Pennsylvania / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nikole Beckwith) — A young woman is returned home to her biological parents after living with her abductor for 17 years. Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Cynthia Nixon, Jason Isaacs, David Warshofsky.
Unexpected / U.S.A. (Director: Kris Swanberg, Screenwriters: Kris Swanberg, Megan Mercier) — When Samantha Abbott begins her final semester teaching science at a Chicago high school, she faces some unexpected news: she's pregnant. Soon after, Samantha learns that one of her favorite students, Jasmine, has landed in a similar situation. Unexpected follows the two women as they embark on an unlikely friendship. Cast: Cobie Smulders, Anders Holm, Gail Bean, Elizabeth McGovern.
The Witch / U.S.A., Canada (Director and screenwriter: Robert Eggers) — New England in the 1630s: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life with five children, homesteading on the edge of an impassable wilderness. When their newborn son vanishes and crops fail, the family turns on one another. Beyond their worst fears, a supernatural evil lurks in the nearby wood. Cast: Anya Taylor Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Lucas Dawson, Ellie Grainger.
Z for Zachariah / U.S.A. (Director: Craig Zobel, Screenwriter: Nissar Modi) — In a post-apocalyptic world, a young woman who believes she is the last human on Earth meets a dying scientist searching for survivors. Their relationship becomes tenuous when another survivor appears. As the two men compete for the woman's affection, their primal urges begin to reveal their true nature. Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Chris Pine.
U.S. Documentary Competition
Sixteen world-premiere American documentaries that illuminate the ideas, people, and events that shape the present day.
3½ Minutes / U.S.A. (Director: Marc Silver) — On November 23, 2012, unarmed 17-year-old Jordan Russell Davis was shot at a Jacksonville gas station by Michael David Dunn. 3½ Minutes explores the aftermath of Jordan's tragic death, the latent and often unseen effects of racism, and the contradictions of the American criminal justice system.
Being Evel / U.S.A. (Director: Daniel Junge) — An unprecedented, candid portrait of American icon Robert "Evel" Knievel and his legacy.
Best of Enemies / U.S.A. (Directors: Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon) — Best of Enemies is a behind-the-scenes account of the explosive 1968 televised debates between the liberal Gore Vidal and the conservative William F. Buckley Jr., and their rancorous disagreements about politics, God, and sex.
Call Me Lucky / U.S.A. (Director: Bobcat Goldthwait) — Barry Crimmins was a volatile but brilliant bar comic who became an honored peace activist and influential political satirist. Famous comedians and others build a picture of a man who underwent an incredible transformation.
Cartel Land / U.S.A., Mexico (Director: Matthew Heineman) — In this classic Western set in the 21st century, vigilantes on both sides of the border fight the vicious Mexican drug cartels. With unprecedented access, this character-driven film provokes deep questions about lawlessness, the breakdown of order, and whether citizens should fight violence with violence.
City of Gold / U.S.A. (Director: Laura Gabbert) — Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Jonathan Gold casts his light upon a vibrant and growing cultural movement in which he plays the dual roles of high-low priest and culinary geographer of his beloved Los Angeles.
Finders Keepers / U.S.A. (Directors: Bryan Carberry, Clay Tweel) — Recovering addict and amputee John Wood finds himself in a stranger-than-fiction battle to reclaim his mummified leg from Southern entrepreneur Shannon Whisnant, who found it in a grill he bought at an auction and believes it to therefore be his rightful property.
Hot Girls Wanted / U.S.A. (Directors: Jill Bauer, Ronna Gradus) — Hot Girls Wanted is a first-ever look at the realities inside the world of the amateur porn industry and the steady stream of 18- and 19-year-old girls entering into it.
How to Dance in Ohio / U.S.A. (Director: Alexandra Shiva) — In Columbus, Ohio, a group of teenagers and young adults on the autism spectrum prepare for an iconic American rite of passage — a spring formal. They spend 12 weeks practicing their social skills at a local nightclub in preparation for the dance.
Larry Kramer in Love and Anger / U.S.A. (Director: Jean Carlomusto) — Author, activist, and playwright Larry Kramer is one of the most important and controversial figures in contemporary gay America, a political firebrand who gave voice to the outrage and grief that inspired gay men and lesbians to fight for their lives. At 78, this complicated man still commands our attention.
Meru / U.S.A. (Directors: Jimmy Chin, E. Chai Vasarhelyi) — Three elite mountain climbers sacrifice everything but their friendship as they struggle through heartbreaking loss and nature’s harshest elements to attempt the never-before-completed Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru, the most coveted first ascent in the dangerous game of Himalayan big wall climbing.
Racing Extinction / U.S.A. (Director: Louie Psihoyos) — Academy Award-winner Louie Psihoyos (The Cove) assembles a unique team to show the world never-before-seen images that expose issues surrounding endangered species and mass extinction. Whether infiltrating notorious black markets or exploring humans' effect on the environment, Racing Extinction will change the way you see the world.
(T)Error / U.S.A. (Directors: Lyric R. Cabral, David Felix Sutcliffe) — (T)Error is the first film to document on camera a covert counterterrorism sting as it unfolds. Through the perspective of *******, a 63-year-old Black revolutionary turned FBI informant, viewers are given an unprecedented glimpse of the government’s counterterrorism tactics, and the murky justifications behind them.
Welcome to Leith / U.S.A. (Directors: Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker) — A white supremacist attempts to take over a small town in North Dakota.
Western / U.S.A., Mexico (Directors: Bill Ross, Turner Ross) — For generations, all that distinguished Eagle Pass, Texas, from Piedras Negras, Mexico, was the Rio Grande. But when darkness descends upon these harmonious border towns, a cowboy and lawman face a new reality that threatens their way of life. Western portrays timeless American figures in the grip of unforgiving change.
The Wolfpack / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Moselle) — Six bright teenage brothers have spent their entire lives locked away from society in a Manhattan housing project. All they know of the outside is gleaned from the movies they watch obsessively (and recreate meticulously). Yet as adolescence looms, they dream of escape, ever more urgently, into the beckoning world.
World Cinema Dramatic Competition
Twelve films from emerging filmmaking talents around the world offer fresh perspectives and inventive styles.
Chlorine / Italy (Director: Lamberto Sanfelice, Screenwriters: Lamberto Sanfelice, Elisa Amoruso) — Jenny, 17, dreams of becoming a synchronized swimmer. Family events turn her life upside down and she is forced move to a remote area to look after her ill father and younger brother. It won't be long before Jenny starts pursuing her dreams again. Cast: Sara Serraiocco, Ivan Franek, Giorgio Colangeli, Anatol Sassi, Piera Degli Esposti, Andrea Vergoni. World Premiere
Chorus / Canada (Director and screenwriter: François Delisle) — A separated couple meet again after 10 years when the body of their missing son is found. Amid the guilt of losing a loved one, they hesitantly move toward affirmation of life, acceptance of death, and even the possibility of reconciliation. Cast: Sébastien Ricard, Fanny Mallette, Pierre Curzi, Genevieve Bujold. World Premiere
Glassland / Ireland (Director and screenwriter: Gerard Barrett) — In a desperate attempt to reunite his broken family, a young taxi driver becomes entangled in the criminal underworld. Cast: Jack Reynor, Toni Collette, Will Poulter, Michael Smiley. International Premiere
Homesick / Norway (Director: Anne Sewitsky, Screenwriters: Ragnhild Tronvoll, Anne Sewitsky) — When Charlotte, 27, meets her brother Henrik, 35, for the first time, two people who don't know what a normal family is begin an encounter without boundaries. How does sibling love manifest itself if you have never experienced it before?Cast: Ine Marie Wilmann, Simon J. Berger, Anneke von der Lippe, Silje Storstein, Oddgeir Thune, Kari Onstad. World Premiere. Isa: TrustNordisk
Ivy / Turkey (Director and screenwriter: Tolga Karaçelik) — Sarmasik is sailing to Egypt when the ship's owner goes bankrupt. The crew learns there is a lien on the ship, and key crew members must stay on board. Ivy is the story of these six men trapped on the ship for days. Cast: Nadir Sarıbacak, Özgür Emre Yıldırım, Hakan Karsak, Kadir Çermik, Osman Alkaş, Seyithan Özdemiroğlu. World Premiere
Partisan / Australia (Director: Ariel Kleiman, Screenwriters: Ariel Kleiman, Sarah Cyngler) — Alexander is like any other kid: playful, curious and naive. He is also a trained assassin. Raised in a hidden paradise, Alexander has grown up seeing the world filtered through his father, Gregori. As Alexander begins to think for himself, creeping fears take shape, and Gregori's idyllic world unravels. Cast: Vincent Cassel, Jeremy Chabriel, Florence Mezzara. World Premiere
Princess / Israel (Director and screenwriter: Tali Shalom Ezer) — While her mother is away from home, 12-year-old Adar’s role-playing games with her stepfather move into dangerous territory. Seeking an escape, Adar finds Alan, an ethereal boy that accompanies her on a dark journey between reality and fantasy. Cast: Keren Mor, Shira Haas, Ori Pfeffer, Adar Zohar Hanetz. International Premiere
The Second Mother / Brazil (Director and screenwriter: Anna Muylaert) — Having left her daughter, Jessica, to be raised by relatives in the north of Brazil, Val works as a loving nanny in São Paulo. When Jessica arrives for a visit 13 years later, she confronts her mother's slave-like attitude and everyone in the house is affected by her unexpected behavior. Cast: Regina Casé, Michel Joelsas, Camila Márdila, Karine Teles, Lourenço Mutarelli. World Premiere
Slow West / New Zealand (Director: John Maclean, Screenwriters: John Maclean, Michael Lesslie) — Set at the end of the nineteenth century, 16-year-old Jay Cavendish journeys across the American frontier in search of the woman he loves. He is joined by Silas, a mysterious traveler, and hotly pursued by an outlaw along the way. Cast: Michael Fassbender, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Rory McCann, Ben Mendelsohn, Brooke Williams, Caren Pistorius. World Premiere
Strangerland / Australia, Ireland (Director: Kim Farrant, Screenwriters: Fiona Seres, Michael Kinirons) — When Catherine and Matthew Parker's two teenage kids disappear into the remote Australian desert, the couple's relationship is pushed to the brink as they confront the mystery of their children's fate. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes, Hugo Weaving, Lisa Flanagan, Meyne Wyatt, Maddison Brown. World Premiere
The Summer of Sangaile / Lithuania, France, Holland (Director and screenwriter: Alanté Kavaïté) — Seventeen-year-old Sangaile is fascinated by stunt planes. She meets a girl her age at the summer aeronautical show, nearby her parents’ lakeside villa. Sangaile allows Auste to discover her most intimate secret and in the process finds in her teenage love, the only person that truly encourages her to fly. Cast: Julija Steponaitytė, Aistė Diržiūtė. World Premiere. Isa: Films Distribution.
Umrika / India (Director and screenwriter: Prashant Nair) — When a young village boy discovers that his brother, long believed to be in America, has actually gone missing, he begins to invent letters on his behalf to save their mother from heartbreak, all the while searching for him. Cast: Suraj Sharma, Tony Revolori, Smita Tambe, Adil Hussain, Rajesh Tailang, Prateik Babbar. World Premiere
World Cinema Documentary Competition
Twelve documentaries by some of the most courageous and extraordinary international filmmakers working today.
The Amina Profile / Canada (Director: Sophie Deraspe) — During the Arab revolution, a love story between two women — a Canadian and a Syrian American — turns into an international sociopolitical thriller spotlighting media excesses and the thin line between truth and falsehood on the Internet. World Premiere
Censored Voices / Israel, Germany (Director: Mor Loushy) — One week after the 1967 Six-Day War, renowned author Amos Oz and editor Avraham Shapira recorded intimate conversations with soldiers returning from the battlefield. The Israeli army censored the recordings, allowing only a fragment of the conversations to be published. Censored Voices reveals these recordings for the first time. World Premiere
The Chinese Mayor / China (Director: Hao Zhou) — Mayor Geng Yanbo is determined to transform the coal-mining center of Datong, in China’s Shanxi province, into a tourism haven showcasing clean energy. In order to achieve that, however, he has to relocate 500,000 residences to make way for the restoration of the ancient city. World Premiere
Chuck Norris vs Communism / United Kingdom, Romania, Germany (Director: Ilinca Calugareanu) — In 1980s Romania, thousands of Western films smashed through the Iron Curtain, opening a window to the free world for those who dared to look. A black market VHS racketeer and courageous female translator brought the magic of film to the masses and sowed the seeds of a revolution. World Premiere. Producers Rep: UTA
Dark Horse / United Kingdom (Director: Louise Osmond) — Dark Horse is the inspirational true story of a group of friends from a workingman's club who decide to take on the elite "sport of kings" and breed themselves a racehorse. World Premiere
Dreamcatcher / United Kingdom (Director: Kim Longinotto) — Dreamcatcher takes us into a hidden world seen through the eyes of one of its survivors, Brenda Myers-Powell. A former teenage prostitute, Brenda defied the odds to become a powerful advocate for change in her community. With warmth and humor, Brenda gives hope to those who have none. World Premiere
How to Change the World / United Kingdom, Canada (Director: Jerry Rothwell) — In 1971, a group of friends sails into a nuclear test zone, and their protest captures the world’s imagination. Using rare, archival footage that brings their extraordinary world to life, How to Change the World is the story of the pioneers who founded Greenpeace and defined the modern green movement. World Premiere. Day One Film
Listen to Me Marlon / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stevan Riley, Co-writer: Peter Ettedgui) — With exclusive access to previously unheard audio archives, this is the definitive Marlon Brando cinema documentary. Charting his exceptional career and extraordinary life away from the stage and screen, the film fully explores the complexities of the man by telling the story uniquely in Marlon’s own voice. World Premiere
Pervert Park / Sweden, Denmark (Directors: Frida Barkfors, Lasse Barkfors) — Pervert Park follows the everyday lives of sex offenders in a Florida trailer park as they struggle to reintegrate into society, and try to understand who they are and how to break the cycle of sex crimes being committed. International Premiere
The Russian Woodpecker / United Kingdom (Director: Chad Gracia) — A Ukrainian victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster discovers a dark secret and must decide whether to risk his life by revealing it, amid growing clouds of revolution and war. World Premiere
Sembene! / U.S.A., Senegal (Directors: Samba Gadjigo, Jason Silverman) — In 1952, Ousmane Sembene, a Senegalese dockworker and fifth-grade dropout, began dreaming an impossible dream: to become the storyteller for a new Africa. This true story celebrates how the “father of African cinema,” against enormous odds, fought a monumental, 50-year-long battle to give Africans a voice. World Premiere
The Visit / Denmark, Austria, Ireland, Finland, Norway (Director: Michael Madsen) — “This film documents an event that has never taken place…” With unprecedented access to the United Nations' Office for Outer Space Affairs, leading space scientists and space agencies, The Visit explores humans' first encounter with alien intelligent life and thereby humanity itself. "Our scenario begins with the arrival. Your arrival." World Premiere
Next <=>
Pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling populate this program. Digital technology paired with unfettered creativity promises that the films in this section will shape a “greater” next wave in American cinema. Presented by Adobe.
Bob and the Trees / U.S.A., France (Director: Diego Ongaro, Screenwriters: Diego Ongaro, Courtney Maum, Sasha Statman-Weil) — Bob, a 50-year-old logger in rural Massachusetts with a soft spot for golf and gangsta rap, is struggling to make ends meet in a changed economy. When his beloved cow is wounded and a job goes awry, Bob begins to heed the instincts of his ever-darkening self. Cast: Bob Tarasuk, Matt Gallagher, Polly MacIntyre, Winthrop Barrett, Nathaniel Gregory. World Premiere
Christmas, Again / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Charles Poekel) — A heartbroken Christmas tree salesman returns to New York, hoping to put the past year behind him. He spends the season living in a trailer and working the night shift, until a mysterious woman and some colorful customers rescue him from self-destruction. Cast: Kentucker Audley, Hannah Gross, Jason Shelton, Oona Roche. North American Premiere
Cronies / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Larnell) — Twenty-two-year-old Louis doesn’t know whether his childhood friendship with Jack will last beyond today. Cast: George Sample III, Zurich Buckner, Brian Kowalski. World Premiere
Entertainment / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Gregg Turkington, Tim Heidecker) — En route to meeting with his estranged daughter, in an attempt to revive his dwindling career, a broken, aging comedian plays a string of dead-end shows in the Mojave Desert. Cast: Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, Lotte Verbeek. World Premiere
H. / U.S.A., Argentina (Directors and screenwriters: Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcia) — Two women, each named Helen, find their lives spinning out of control after a meteor allegedly explodes over their city of Troy, New York. Cast: Robin Bartlett, Rebecca Dayan, Will Janowitz, Julian Gamble, Roger Robinson. World Premiere
James White / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Josh Mond) — A young New Yorker struggles to take control of his reckless, self-destructive behavior in the face of momentous family challenges. Cast: Chris Abbott, Cynthia Nixon, Scott Mescudi, Makenzie Leigh, David Call. World Premiere
Nasty Baby / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sebastian Silva) — A gay couple try to have a baby with the help of their best friend, Polly. The trio navigates the idea of creating life while confronted by unexpected harassment from a neighborhood man called The Bishop. As their clashes grow increasingly aggressive, odds are someone is getting hurt. Cast: Sebastian Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, Kristin Wiig, Reg E. Cathey, Mark Margolis, Denis O'Hare. World Premiere
The Strongest Man / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kenny Riches) — An anxiety-ridden Cuban man who fancies himself the strongest man in the world attempts to recover his most prized possession, a stolen bicycle. On his quest, he finds and loses much more. Cast: Robert Lorie, Paul Chamberlain, Ashly Burch, Patrick Fugit, Lisa Banes. World Premiere
" Take Me To The River " / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Matt Sobel) — A naive California teen plans to remain above the fray at his Nebraskan family reunion, but a strange encounter places him at the center of a long-buried family secret.Cast: Logan Miller, Robin Weigert, Josh Hamilton, Richard Schiff, Ursula Parker, Azura Skye. World Premiere. Producer rep: Cinetic Media
Tangerine / U.S.A. (Director: Sean Baker, Screenwriters: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch) — A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart. Cast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan, Alla Tumanyan, James Ransone. World Premiere
Spotlight
Regardless of where these films have played throughout the world, the Spotlight program is a tribute to the cinema we love.
6 Desires: Dh Lawrence and Sardinia / United Kingdom, Italy (Director: Mark Cousins) — In winter 1921, Dh Lawrence and his wife journeyed to Sardinia, and he chronicled their experiences in Sea and Sardinia. Now, Mark Cousins retraces Lawrence’s footsteps. The film is conceived partly as a letter to Lawrence — or “Bert” — a detail that’s typical of the film’s inviting sense of conversational intimacy.International Premiere
'71 / United Kingdom (Director: Yann Demange, Screenwriter: Gregory Burke) — ‘71 takes place over a single night in the life of a young British soldier accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971. Unable to tell friend from foe, he must survive the night alone and find his way to safety. Cast: Jack O'Connell, Paul Anderson, Richard Dormer, Sean Harris, Barry Keoghan, Martin McCann.
99 Homes / U.S.A. (Director: Ramin Bahrani, Screenwriters: Ramin Bahrani, Amir Naderi, Bahareh Azimi) — A father struggles to get back the home that his family was evicted from by working for the greedy real-estate broker who's the source of his frustration. Cast: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern, Tim Guinee, Cullen Moss, J.D. Evermore.
Aloft / Spain, France, Canada (Director and screenwriter: Claudia Llosa) — Aloft tells the story of a struggling mother, Nana, and her evolution to becoming a renowned healer. When a young artist tracks down Nana's son 20 years after she abandoned him, she sets in motion an encounter between the two that will bring the meaning of their lives into question. Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Cillian Murphy, Mélanie Laurent, William Shimell. North American Premiere
Eden / France (Director: Mia Hansen-løve, Screenwriters: Mia Hansen-løve, Sven Hansen-løve) — Mia Hansen-løve's electronic-dance-music epic follows the rise and fall of a DJ (based on her brother, Sven, a contemporary of Daft Punk) who gets into the rave scene in 1994 and spends the next 20 years navigating the French club scene. Cast: Félix de Givry, Pauline Etienne, Greta Gerwig, Brady Corbet, Arsinee Khanjian, Vincent Macaigne.
Girlhood / France (Director and screenwriter: Céline Sciamma) — Oppressed by her family, dead-end school prospects, and the boys law in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of free-spirited girls. She changes her name and dress, and quits school to be accepted in the gang, hoping to find a way to freedom. Cast: Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh, Mariétou Touré, Idrissa Diabaté, Simina Soumaré.
The Tribe / Ukraine (Director and screenwriter: Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy) — Set at a Ukrainian boarding school for the deaf, the film’s narrative unfolds purely through sign language without the need for employing subtitles or voiceover, resulting in a unique, never-before-seen cinematic experience that engages the audience on a new level. Cast: Grigoriy Fesenko, Yana Novikova, Rosa Babiy, Alexander Dsiadevich.
White God / Hungary (Director: Kornél Mundruczó, Screenwriters: Kata Wéber, Kornél Mundruczó, Viktória Petrányi) — When young Lili is forced to give up her beloved dog, Hagen, because its mixed-breed heritage is deemed “unfit” by The State, she and the dog begin a dangerous journey back toward each other. Cast: Zsófia Psotta, Sandor Zsótér, Szabolcs Thuróczy, Lili Monori, László Gálffi, Lili Horváth. U.S. Premiere
Wild Tales / Argentina, Spain (Director and screenwriter: Damián Szifrón) — Inequality, injustice, and the demands of the world cause stress and depression for many people. Some of them, however, explode. This is a movie about those people. Vulnerable in the face of an unpredictable reality, the characters of Wild Tales cross the thin line dividing civilization and barbarism. Cast: Ricardo Darín, Julieta Zyberberg, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Darío Grandinetti, Erica Rivas, Oscar Martínez.
Park City At Midnight
From horror flicks to comedies to works that defy any genre, these unruly films will keep you edge-seated and wide awake.
Cop Car / U.S.A. (Director: Jon Watts, Screenwriters: Christopher D. Ford, Jon Watts) — Two 10-year-old boys steal an abandoned cop car. Cast: Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford, Shea Whigham, Camryn Manheim. World Premiere
The Hallow / Ireland, United Kingdom (Director: Corin Hardy, Screenwriters: Corin Hardy, Felipe Marino) — When a London-based conservationist is sent to Ireland to survey an area of ancient forest believed by the superstitious locals to be hallowed ground, he unwittingly disturbs a horde of terrifying beings and must fight to protect his family. Cast: Joseph Mawle, Bojana Novakovic, Michael McElhatton, Michael Smiley. World Premiere
Hellions / Canada (Director: Bruce McDonald, Screenwriter: Pascal Trottier) — Teenage Dora Vogel must survive a Halloween night from hell when malevolent trick-or-treaters come knocking at her door. Cast: Chloe Rose, Robert Patrick, Rossif Sutherland, Rachel Wilson, Peter DaCunha, Luke Bilyk. World Premiere
It Follows / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: David Robert Mitchell) — After a strange sexual encounter, a teenager finds herself haunted by nightmarish visions and the inescapable sense that something is after her. Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi, Lili Sepe.
Knock Knock / U.S.A. (Director: Eli Roth, Screenwriters: Eli Roth, Nicolas Lopez, Guillermo Amoedo) — Two beautiful young girls walk into a married man's life and turn a wild fantasy into his worst nightmare. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana De Armas, Aaron Burns, Ignacia Allamand, Colleen Camp. World Premiere
The Nightmare / U.S.A. (Director: Rodney Ascher) — A documentary-horror film exploring the phenomenon of sleep paralysis through the eyes of eight people. They (and a surprisingly large number of others) often find themselves trapped between the sleeping and awake realms, unable to move but aware of their surroundings while subject to disturbing sights and sounds. World Premiere
Reversal / U.S.A. (Director: J.M Cravioto, Screenwriters: Rock Shaink, Keith Kjornes) — A gritty psychological thriller about a young woman chained in a basement of a sexual predator and manages to escape. However, right when she has a chance for freedom, she unravels a hard truth and decides to turn the tables on her captor. Cast: Tina Ivlev, Richard Tyson, Bianca Malinowski. World Premiere
Turbo Kid / Canada, New Zealand (Directors: Anouk Whissell, Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell, Screenwriters: Anouk Whissell, Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell) — In a post-apocalyptic future, The Kid, an orphaned outcast, meets a mysterious girl. They become friends until Zeus, the sadistic leader of the Wasteland, kidnaps her. The Kid must face his fears, and journey to rid the Wasteland of evil and save the girl. Cast: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffery, Edwin Wright. World Premiere
New Frontier Films
The Forbidden Room / Canada (Directors: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Screenwriters: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Robert Kotyk) — A submarine crew, a feared pack of forest bandits, a famous surgeon, and a battalion of child soldiers all get more than they bargained for as they wend their way toward progressive ideas on life and love. Cast: Geraldine Chaplin, Caroline Dhavernas, Roy Dupuis, Udo Kier, Charlotte Rampling, Karine Vanasse. World Premiere
Liveforever / Colombia, Mexico (Director: Carlos Moreno, Screenwriters: Alberto Ferreras, Alonso Torres, Carlos Moreno) — Driven by the music and dancing she finds along the way, a teenager leaves home willing to try anything her provocative and tolerant city has to offer, even if she burns out in the process. Inspired by the best-selling novel "Que viva la música" by Andres Caicedo. Cast: Paulina Davila, Alejandra Avila, Luis Arrieta, Juan Pablo Barragan, Nelson Camayo, Christian Tappan. World Premiere
The Royal Road / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jenni Olson) — This cinematic essay, a defense of remembering, offers up a primer on the Spanish colonization of California and the Mexican American War alongside intimate reflections on nostalgia, butch identity and Alfred Hitchcock'sVertigo — all against a contemplative backdrop of 16mm urban California landscapes. Cast: Jenni Olson, Tony Kushner. World Premiere
Sam Klemke's Time Machine / Australia (Director: Matthew Bate) — Sam Klemke has filmed and narrated 50 years of his life, creating a strange and intimate portrait of what it means to be human. World Premiere
Station to Station / U.S.A. (Director: Doug Aitken) — Station to Station is composed of 60 individual one-minute films featuring different artists, musicians, places, and perspectives. This revolutionary feature-length film reveals a larger narrative about modern creativity. World Premiere
Things of the Aimless Wanderer / Rwanda, United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Kivu Ruhorahoza) — A white man meets a black girl, then she disappears. The white man tries to understand what happened to her while also trying to finish a travelogue. Things of the Aimless Wanderer is a film about the sensitive topic of relations between “locals” and Westerners, about paranoia, mistrust, and misunderstandings. Cast: Justin Mullikin, Grace Nikuze, Ramadhan Bizimana, Eliane Umuhire, Wesley Ruzibiza, Matt Ray Brown. World Premiere
New Frontier Installations
1979 Revolution Game
Artists: Navid Khonsari, Vassiliki Khonsari
1979 Revolution Game presents an innovative approach to non-fiction storytelling. Designed to engage players with an immersive "on the ground" experience of the Iranian Revolution, the game integrates an emotionally impactful narrative with interactive moral choices and intuitive touchscreen gameplay while remaining true to history.
Assent
Artist: Oscar Raby
This immersive documentary uses virtual reality technology to put the user in the footsteps of Director Oscar Raby's father, who in 1973 was a 22-year-old army officer stationed in the north of Chile, on the day when the Caravan of Death came to his regiment.
Birdly
Artist: Max Rheiner
Flying is one of the oldest dreams of humankind. Birdly is an experiment to capture this dream, to simulate the experience of being a bird from a first-person perspective. This embodiment is conducted through a full-body virtual reality setup.
Dérive
Artist: François Quévillon
This interactive installation uses the audience’s body motions and positions to explore 3-D reconstructions of urban and natural spaces that are transformed according to live environmental data, including meteorological and astronomical phenomena.
Evolution of Verse
Artist: Chris Milk
Chris Milk, working with visual effects powerhouse Digital Domain and virtual reality production company Vrse.works, has created this photo-realistic CGI-rendered 3-D virtual reality film that takes the viewer on a journey from beginning to new beginning.
Kaiju Fury!
Artist: Ian Hunter
A dark energy experiment leads to a devastating attack by monstrous Kaiju, and you are standing at ground zero — all in 360-degree, stereoscopic 3-D cinematic virtual reality. You will "be there" as the beasts lay waste to a crumbling city and humanity makes its last stand. Cast: Susie Abromeit, Bill Lippincott, Daniel Martin, Brian Dodge, Vincient Chiantelli.
Paradise
Artist: Pleix
Paradise is certainly not paradisiacal if you look at it through our eyes. But neither is it totally devoid of humor, melancholy and absurdity. Perhaps it is first and foremost life as it is, and then a touch exaggerated in the digital overdrive.
Perspective; Chapter I: The Party
Artists: Rose Troche, Morris May
A young college woman attends a party with the intention of shedding her "shy girl" persona. At the same party, a young man is after a similar reinvention. They meet, drink, and misinterpreted signals turn into things that cannot be undone. Virtual reality simulators let viewers experience both characters. Cast: Tabitha Morella, Caleb Thomas, Zachary Zagoria, Anna Grace Barlow.
Possibilia
Artists: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
tt3694760 autoPossibil...
The programmers at Sundance do not have a strict formal assignment of areas they program; they see all the films of all the sections, but like his father, international was always of great interest. The same is true for myself, although out of the 118 feature films selected out of 4,105 feature length submissions, many of the U.S. films look great to me as well. For instance, I am so happy that Matt Sobel’s “ Take Me To The River ” which won the prize at Us in Progress this past November in Wroclaw, Poland at The American Film Festival is in the Next section.
John: This year on Day One, January 22, 2015, the Festival will feature one of each type of film shown at the Festival: one shorts program, a U.S. documentary, a U.S. dramatic, an international documentary and an international dramatic which will be the first ever Lithuanian film in Competition, a lesbian love story that is stylish and smartly directed by Alanté Kavaïté with two fantastic actors, Julija Steponaitytė and Aistė Diržiūtė. Actually " The Summer of Sangaile” is a coproduction of Lithuania, France, and Holland . I think Alanté lives in France.
There ares 29 countries represented and 45 first-time filmmakers.
Sydney: I know the Chileans love Sundance. Last year Alejandro Fernández Almendras said in our interview about “To Kill a Man” that Sundance is very important for Chile. I am also a longtime fan of Sebastian Silva since “The Maid”. Two years ago he had two films, “Crystal Fairy” and “Magic, Magic” in Sundance, so why is this Chilean film not in World Competition but in Next?
John: I’m glad Alejandro said that. Yes we like Chile too. They make many good films. But “Nasty Baby” by Sebastian Silva is a U.S. film, about people living in Brooklyn.
He lives in U.S. and has spent a lot of time here. He knows Brooklyn and yet his curiosity and his view of it is that of an outsider. He knows these people because he watches and listens so well. “
Sydney: “Bridesmaids” star and co-writer Kristen Wiig stars. A short promo of “Nasty Baby” was shown to buyers while it was in post-production in Cannes and Toronto. The Chilean production company of Juan de Dios Larrain and Pablo Larrain, Fabula, produced “No” as well as Sebastian’s later films. Papi Boye and Violaine Pichon’s production and international sales agent Versatile out of France along with the film’s international sales agent Funny Balloons — also based in France – helped finance this U.S. Production.
John: World Cinema is now 10 years old. Overall, the Competition sections have evolved over the years. We have a sense of emerging directors here. We have come of age.
All our films are of emerging filmmakers. Either first time directors or highly anticipated second or third features. Of all the festivals worldwide, Sundance has the strongest program of emerging talent. Watch these filmmakers over the next years. Like “Homesick” by Anna Sewitsky. Her previous film “Happy, Happy” showed at Sundance in 2011 and took the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema. “Happy, Happy” also became the Norwegian Official entry for the Academy Awards® .
Sydney: TrustNordisk sold “Happy, Happy” to more than 50 countries, so they must be poised to sell this one as well.
John: But not all the second and third films are from filmmakers whose first films were at Sundance, although Canada’s “ Chorus” director Francois Delisle showed “The Meteor” at Sundance two years ago.
And “Glassland”, was a very anticipated second film. The first film by director and screenwriter, Gerard Barrett, "Pilgrim Hill” won the Galway Film Festival and was very sought after and was signed with a U.S. agent then. “Sangaile" is also a second feature.
Look at the international films in the Premieres section and you will see some international filmmakers there, like “ Brooklyn” which is an immigrant story directed by John Crowley and written by Nick Hornby whose film “Wild” is now playing .
Sydney: I see from IMDbPro that Hanway has already sold Middle Eastern rights to Front Row Entertainment who must have pre-bought “Brooklyn” in Cannes or Toronto.
John: Of the 12 films in World Cinema the less expected films come from Turkey, “Ivy” by the talented director Tolga Karacelik. This is his second film. His first was “Toll Booth” which Global Initiative distributed in the U.S. The Dp on this was Nuri Bilge Ceylan (“Winter’s Sleep”)’s Dp on “Winter’s Sleep”, Gökhan Tiryaki. It is about guys stuck on a freighter whose company goes bankrupt. Power dynamics play out.
Sydney: Have there been Oscar nominated films in Sundance (Aside from “Whiplash” and “Boyhood”)?
John: Yes, “Man on Wire” was not last year but it was foreign. “Ida” was in Spotlight last year and maybe Sundance increased its visibility. Three others were in Sundance last year:
“To Kill a Man” is Chile’s submission, “Difret” which won the Audience Award is Ethiopia’s submission this year and “Liar’s Dice” from India was in World Competition last year. It is a very artful film. We knew it would do well with the critics, but it did extremely well with the audience too. A couple of films in Spotlight will probably be nominated next year. Watch for them.
Sydney : We haven’t even discussed the World documentaries.
John : Are there any that stand out for you?
Sydney: Yes, “Chuck Norris vs. Communism”, from U.K., Romania and Germany. Chuck Norris?
John: How interesting it is that something like Chuck Norris means something very different to others. It is a sign of cultural differences between us. Chuck Norris shows how independent films built a community of counter culture against an authoritarian government.
Sydney: I also notice that there are six docs from the U.K. Out of 12 films.
John: Yes we noticed and discussed that. U.K. really supports documentary filmmaking. Great work is coming out of the U.K. And many of the films are about different countries, so it doesn’t fit so simply into a U.K. pigeon hole.
Sydney : Yes I see “Chuck Norris” is about Romania, “Dreamcatcher” is about teenage prostitution, “How to Change the World” is about Greenpeace, “Listen to Me Marlon” is about a famous U.S. actor, “The Russian Woodpecker” is about a Ukrainian survivor of Chernobyl.
Thank you John for your insights. I think we have a lot to look at here. Thank you for taking this time to talk with me. See you at Sundance!
For a full list thus far of Sundance films, see below.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Advantageous / U.S.A. (Director: Jennifer Phang, Screenwriters: Jacqueline Kim, Jennifer Phang) — In a near-future city where soaring opulence overshadows economic hardship, Gwen and her daughter, Jules, do all they can to hold on to their joy, despite the instability surfacing in their world. Cast: Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Freya Adams, Ken Jeong, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Kim.
The Bronze / U.S.A. (Director: Bryan Buckley, Screenwriters: Melissa Rauch, Winston Rauch) — In 2004, Hope Ann Greggory became an American hero after winning the bronze medal for the women's gymnastics team. Today, she's still living in her small hometown, washed-up and embittered. Stuck in the past, Hope must reassess her life when a promising young gymnast threatens her local celebrity status.Cast: Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch, Sebastian Stan, Haley Lu Richardson, Cecily Strong. Day One Film
The D Train / U.S.A. (Directors and screenwriters: Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel) — With his 20th reunion looming, Dan can’t shake his high school insecurities. In a misguided mission to prove he's changed, Dan rekindles a friendship with the popular guy from his class and is left scrambling to protect more than just his reputation when a wild night takes an unexpected turn. Cast: Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike White, Kyle Bornheimer.
The Diary of a Teenage Girl / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Marielle Heller) — Minnie Goetze is a 15-year-old aspiring comic-book artist, coming of age in the haze of the 1970s in San Francisco. Insatiably curious about the world around her, Minnie is a pretty typical teenage girl. Oh, except that she's sleeping with her mother's boyfriend. Cast: Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Christopher Meloni, Kristen Wiig.
Dope / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Rick Famuyiwa) — Malcolm is carefully surviving life in a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles while juggling college applications, academic interviews, and the Sat. A chance invitation to an underground party leads him into an adventure that could allow him to go from being a geek, to being dope, to ultimately being himself. Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Blake Anderson, Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky.
I Smile Back / U.S.A. (Director: Adam Salky, Screenwriters: Amy Koppelman, Paige Dylan) — All is not right in suburbia. Laney Brooks, a wife and mother on the edge, has stopped taking her meds, substituting recreational drugs and the wrong men. With the destruction of her family looming, Laney makes a last, desperate attempt at redemption. Cast: Sarah Silverman, Josh Charles, Thomas Sadoski, Mia Barron, Terry Kinney, Chris Sarandon.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl / U.S.A. (Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Screenwriter: Jesse Andrews) — Greg is coasting through senior year of high school as anonymously as possible, avoiding social interactions like the plague while secretly making spirited, bizarre films with Earl, his only friend. But both his anonymity and friendship threaten to unravel when his mother forces him to befriend a classmate with leukemia. Cast: Thomas Mann, Rj Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, Molly Shannon.
The Overnight / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Patrick Brice) — Alex, Emily, and their son, Rj, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family "playdate" becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on. Cast: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godrèche.
People, Places, Things / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: James C. Strouse) — Will Henry is a newly single graphic novelist balancing being a parent to his young twin daughters and teaching a classroom full of college students, all the while trying to navigate the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him. Cast: Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Stephanie Allynne, Jessica Williams, Gia Gadsby, Aundrea Gadsby.
Results / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Bujalski) — Two mismatched personal trainers' lives are upended by the actions of a new, wealthy client. Cast: Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan, Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Michael Hall, Brooklyn Decker.
Songs My Brothers Taught Me / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Chloé Zhao) — This complex portrait of modern-day life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation explores the bond between a brother and his younger sister, who find themselves on separate paths to rediscovering the meaning of home. Cast: John Reddy, Jashaun St. John, Irene Bedard, Taysha Fuller, Travis Lone Hill, Eléonore Hendricks.
The Stanford Prison Experiment / U.S.A. (Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Screenwriter: Tim Talbott) — This film is based on the actual events that took place in 1971 when Stanford professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo created what became one of the most shocking and famous social experiments of all time. Cast: Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, Tye Sheridan, Johnny Simmons, Olivia Thirlby.
Stockholm, Pennsylvania / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nikole Beckwith) — A young woman is returned home to her biological parents after living with her abductor for 17 years. Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Cynthia Nixon, Jason Isaacs, David Warshofsky.
Unexpected / U.S.A. (Director: Kris Swanberg, Screenwriters: Kris Swanberg, Megan Mercier) — When Samantha Abbott begins her final semester teaching science at a Chicago high school, she faces some unexpected news: she's pregnant. Soon after, Samantha learns that one of her favorite students, Jasmine, has landed in a similar situation. Unexpected follows the two women as they embark on an unlikely friendship. Cast: Cobie Smulders, Anders Holm, Gail Bean, Elizabeth McGovern.
The Witch / U.S.A., Canada (Director and screenwriter: Robert Eggers) — New England in the 1630s: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life with five children, homesteading on the edge of an impassable wilderness. When their newborn son vanishes and crops fail, the family turns on one another. Beyond their worst fears, a supernatural evil lurks in the nearby wood. Cast: Anya Taylor Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Lucas Dawson, Ellie Grainger.
Z for Zachariah / U.S.A. (Director: Craig Zobel, Screenwriter: Nissar Modi) — In a post-apocalyptic world, a young woman who believes she is the last human on Earth meets a dying scientist searching for survivors. Their relationship becomes tenuous when another survivor appears. As the two men compete for the woman's affection, their primal urges begin to reveal their true nature. Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Chris Pine.
U.S. Documentary Competition
Sixteen world-premiere American documentaries that illuminate the ideas, people, and events that shape the present day.
3½ Minutes / U.S.A. (Director: Marc Silver) — On November 23, 2012, unarmed 17-year-old Jordan Russell Davis was shot at a Jacksonville gas station by Michael David Dunn. 3½ Minutes explores the aftermath of Jordan's tragic death, the latent and often unseen effects of racism, and the contradictions of the American criminal justice system.
Being Evel / U.S.A. (Director: Daniel Junge) — An unprecedented, candid portrait of American icon Robert "Evel" Knievel and his legacy.
Best of Enemies / U.S.A. (Directors: Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon) — Best of Enemies is a behind-the-scenes account of the explosive 1968 televised debates between the liberal Gore Vidal and the conservative William F. Buckley Jr., and their rancorous disagreements about politics, God, and sex.
Call Me Lucky / U.S.A. (Director: Bobcat Goldthwait) — Barry Crimmins was a volatile but brilliant bar comic who became an honored peace activist and influential political satirist. Famous comedians and others build a picture of a man who underwent an incredible transformation.
Cartel Land / U.S.A., Mexico (Director: Matthew Heineman) — In this classic Western set in the 21st century, vigilantes on both sides of the border fight the vicious Mexican drug cartels. With unprecedented access, this character-driven film provokes deep questions about lawlessness, the breakdown of order, and whether citizens should fight violence with violence.
City of Gold / U.S.A. (Director: Laura Gabbert) — Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Jonathan Gold casts his light upon a vibrant and growing cultural movement in which he plays the dual roles of high-low priest and culinary geographer of his beloved Los Angeles.
Finders Keepers / U.S.A. (Directors: Bryan Carberry, Clay Tweel) — Recovering addict and amputee John Wood finds himself in a stranger-than-fiction battle to reclaim his mummified leg from Southern entrepreneur Shannon Whisnant, who found it in a grill he bought at an auction and believes it to therefore be his rightful property.
Hot Girls Wanted / U.S.A. (Directors: Jill Bauer, Ronna Gradus) — Hot Girls Wanted is a first-ever look at the realities inside the world of the amateur porn industry and the steady stream of 18- and 19-year-old girls entering into it.
How to Dance in Ohio / U.S.A. (Director: Alexandra Shiva) — In Columbus, Ohio, a group of teenagers and young adults on the autism spectrum prepare for an iconic American rite of passage — a spring formal. They spend 12 weeks practicing their social skills at a local nightclub in preparation for the dance.
Larry Kramer in Love and Anger / U.S.A. (Director: Jean Carlomusto) — Author, activist, and playwright Larry Kramer is one of the most important and controversial figures in contemporary gay America, a political firebrand who gave voice to the outrage and grief that inspired gay men and lesbians to fight for their lives. At 78, this complicated man still commands our attention.
Meru / U.S.A. (Directors: Jimmy Chin, E. Chai Vasarhelyi) — Three elite mountain climbers sacrifice everything but their friendship as they struggle through heartbreaking loss and nature’s harshest elements to attempt the never-before-completed Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru, the most coveted first ascent in the dangerous game of Himalayan big wall climbing.
Racing Extinction / U.S.A. (Director: Louie Psihoyos) — Academy Award-winner Louie Psihoyos (The Cove) assembles a unique team to show the world never-before-seen images that expose issues surrounding endangered species and mass extinction. Whether infiltrating notorious black markets or exploring humans' effect on the environment, Racing Extinction will change the way you see the world.
(T)Error / U.S.A. (Directors: Lyric R. Cabral, David Felix Sutcliffe) — (T)Error is the first film to document on camera a covert counterterrorism sting as it unfolds. Through the perspective of *******, a 63-year-old Black revolutionary turned FBI informant, viewers are given an unprecedented glimpse of the government’s counterterrorism tactics, and the murky justifications behind them.
Welcome to Leith / U.S.A. (Directors: Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker) — A white supremacist attempts to take over a small town in North Dakota.
Western / U.S.A., Mexico (Directors: Bill Ross, Turner Ross) — For generations, all that distinguished Eagle Pass, Texas, from Piedras Negras, Mexico, was the Rio Grande. But when darkness descends upon these harmonious border towns, a cowboy and lawman face a new reality that threatens their way of life. Western portrays timeless American figures in the grip of unforgiving change.
The Wolfpack / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Moselle) — Six bright teenage brothers have spent their entire lives locked away from society in a Manhattan housing project. All they know of the outside is gleaned from the movies they watch obsessively (and recreate meticulously). Yet as adolescence looms, they dream of escape, ever more urgently, into the beckoning world.
World Cinema Dramatic Competition
Twelve films from emerging filmmaking talents around the world offer fresh perspectives and inventive styles.
Chlorine / Italy (Director: Lamberto Sanfelice, Screenwriters: Lamberto Sanfelice, Elisa Amoruso) — Jenny, 17, dreams of becoming a synchronized swimmer. Family events turn her life upside down and she is forced move to a remote area to look after her ill father and younger brother. It won't be long before Jenny starts pursuing her dreams again. Cast: Sara Serraiocco, Ivan Franek, Giorgio Colangeli, Anatol Sassi, Piera Degli Esposti, Andrea Vergoni. World Premiere
Chorus / Canada (Director and screenwriter: François Delisle) — A separated couple meet again after 10 years when the body of their missing son is found. Amid the guilt of losing a loved one, they hesitantly move toward affirmation of life, acceptance of death, and even the possibility of reconciliation. Cast: Sébastien Ricard, Fanny Mallette, Pierre Curzi, Genevieve Bujold. World Premiere
Glassland / Ireland (Director and screenwriter: Gerard Barrett) — In a desperate attempt to reunite his broken family, a young taxi driver becomes entangled in the criminal underworld. Cast: Jack Reynor, Toni Collette, Will Poulter, Michael Smiley. International Premiere
Homesick / Norway (Director: Anne Sewitsky, Screenwriters: Ragnhild Tronvoll, Anne Sewitsky) — When Charlotte, 27, meets her brother Henrik, 35, for the first time, two people who don't know what a normal family is begin an encounter without boundaries. How does sibling love manifest itself if you have never experienced it before?Cast: Ine Marie Wilmann, Simon J. Berger, Anneke von der Lippe, Silje Storstein, Oddgeir Thune, Kari Onstad. World Premiere. Isa: TrustNordisk
Ivy / Turkey (Director and screenwriter: Tolga Karaçelik) — Sarmasik is sailing to Egypt when the ship's owner goes bankrupt. The crew learns there is a lien on the ship, and key crew members must stay on board. Ivy is the story of these six men trapped on the ship for days. Cast: Nadir Sarıbacak, Özgür Emre Yıldırım, Hakan Karsak, Kadir Çermik, Osman Alkaş, Seyithan Özdemiroğlu. World Premiere
Partisan / Australia (Director: Ariel Kleiman, Screenwriters: Ariel Kleiman, Sarah Cyngler) — Alexander is like any other kid: playful, curious and naive. He is also a trained assassin. Raised in a hidden paradise, Alexander has grown up seeing the world filtered through his father, Gregori. As Alexander begins to think for himself, creeping fears take shape, and Gregori's idyllic world unravels. Cast: Vincent Cassel, Jeremy Chabriel, Florence Mezzara. World Premiere
Princess / Israel (Director and screenwriter: Tali Shalom Ezer) — While her mother is away from home, 12-year-old Adar’s role-playing games with her stepfather move into dangerous territory. Seeking an escape, Adar finds Alan, an ethereal boy that accompanies her on a dark journey between reality and fantasy. Cast: Keren Mor, Shira Haas, Ori Pfeffer, Adar Zohar Hanetz. International Premiere
The Second Mother / Brazil (Director and screenwriter: Anna Muylaert) — Having left her daughter, Jessica, to be raised by relatives in the north of Brazil, Val works as a loving nanny in São Paulo. When Jessica arrives for a visit 13 years later, she confronts her mother's slave-like attitude and everyone in the house is affected by her unexpected behavior. Cast: Regina Casé, Michel Joelsas, Camila Márdila, Karine Teles, Lourenço Mutarelli. World Premiere
Slow West / New Zealand (Director: John Maclean, Screenwriters: John Maclean, Michael Lesslie) — Set at the end of the nineteenth century, 16-year-old Jay Cavendish journeys across the American frontier in search of the woman he loves. He is joined by Silas, a mysterious traveler, and hotly pursued by an outlaw along the way. Cast: Michael Fassbender, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Rory McCann, Ben Mendelsohn, Brooke Williams, Caren Pistorius. World Premiere
Strangerland / Australia, Ireland (Director: Kim Farrant, Screenwriters: Fiona Seres, Michael Kinirons) — When Catherine and Matthew Parker's two teenage kids disappear into the remote Australian desert, the couple's relationship is pushed to the brink as they confront the mystery of their children's fate. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes, Hugo Weaving, Lisa Flanagan, Meyne Wyatt, Maddison Brown. World Premiere
The Summer of Sangaile / Lithuania, France, Holland (Director and screenwriter: Alanté Kavaïté) — Seventeen-year-old Sangaile is fascinated by stunt planes. She meets a girl her age at the summer aeronautical show, nearby her parents’ lakeside villa. Sangaile allows Auste to discover her most intimate secret and in the process finds in her teenage love, the only person that truly encourages her to fly. Cast: Julija Steponaitytė, Aistė Diržiūtė. World Premiere. Isa: Films Distribution.
Umrika / India (Director and screenwriter: Prashant Nair) — When a young village boy discovers that his brother, long believed to be in America, has actually gone missing, he begins to invent letters on his behalf to save their mother from heartbreak, all the while searching for him. Cast: Suraj Sharma, Tony Revolori, Smita Tambe, Adil Hussain, Rajesh Tailang, Prateik Babbar. World Premiere
World Cinema Documentary Competition
Twelve documentaries by some of the most courageous and extraordinary international filmmakers working today.
The Amina Profile / Canada (Director: Sophie Deraspe) — During the Arab revolution, a love story between two women — a Canadian and a Syrian American — turns into an international sociopolitical thriller spotlighting media excesses and the thin line between truth and falsehood on the Internet. World Premiere
Censored Voices / Israel, Germany (Director: Mor Loushy) — One week after the 1967 Six-Day War, renowned author Amos Oz and editor Avraham Shapira recorded intimate conversations with soldiers returning from the battlefield. The Israeli army censored the recordings, allowing only a fragment of the conversations to be published. Censored Voices reveals these recordings for the first time. World Premiere
The Chinese Mayor / China (Director: Hao Zhou) — Mayor Geng Yanbo is determined to transform the coal-mining center of Datong, in China’s Shanxi province, into a tourism haven showcasing clean energy. In order to achieve that, however, he has to relocate 500,000 residences to make way for the restoration of the ancient city. World Premiere
Chuck Norris vs Communism / United Kingdom, Romania, Germany (Director: Ilinca Calugareanu) — In 1980s Romania, thousands of Western films smashed through the Iron Curtain, opening a window to the free world for those who dared to look. A black market VHS racketeer and courageous female translator brought the magic of film to the masses and sowed the seeds of a revolution. World Premiere. Producers Rep: UTA
Dark Horse / United Kingdom (Director: Louise Osmond) — Dark Horse is the inspirational true story of a group of friends from a workingman's club who decide to take on the elite "sport of kings" and breed themselves a racehorse. World Premiere
Dreamcatcher / United Kingdom (Director: Kim Longinotto) — Dreamcatcher takes us into a hidden world seen through the eyes of one of its survivors, Brenda Myers-Powell. A former teenage prostitute, Brenda defied the odds to become a powerful advocate for change in her community. With warmth and humor, Brenda gives hope to those who have none. World Premiere
How to Change the World / United Kingdom, Canada (Director: Jerry Rothwell) — In 1971, a group of friends sails into a nuclear test zone, and their protest captures the world’s imagination. Using rare, archival footage that brings their extraordinary world to life, How to Change the World is the story of the pioneers who founded Greenpeace and defined the modern green movement. World Premiere. Day One Film
Listen to Me Marlon / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stevan Riley, Co-writer: Peter Ettedgui) — With exclusive access to previously unheard audio archives, this is the definitive Marlon Brando cinema documentary. Charting his exceptional career and extraordinary life away from the stage and screen, the film fully explores the complexities of the man by telling the story uniquely in Marlon’s own voice. World Premiere
Pervert Park / Sweden, Denmark (Directors: Frida Barkfors, Lasse Barkfors) — Pervert Park follows the everyday lives of sex offenders in a Florida trailer park as they struggle to reintegrate into society, and try to understand who they are and how to break the cycle of sex crimes being committed. International Premiere
The Russian Woodpecker / United Kingdom (Director: Chad Gracia) — A Ukrainian victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster discovers a dark secret and must decide whether to risk his life by revealing it, amid growing clouds of revolution and war. World Premiere
Sembene! / U.S.A., Senegal (Directors: Samba Gadjigo, Jason Silverman) — In 1952, Ousmane Sembene, a Senegalese dockworker and fifth-grade dropout, began dreaming an impossible dream: to become the storyteller for a new Africa. This true story celebrates how the “father of African cinema,” against enormous odds, fought a monumental, 50-year-long battle to give Africans a voice. World Premiere
The Visit / Denmark, Austria, Ireland, Finland, Norway (Director: Michael Madsen) — “This film documents an event that has never taken place…” With unprecedented access to the United Nations' Office for Outer Space Affairs, leading space scientists and space agencies, The Visit explores humans' first encounter with alien intelligent life and thereby humanity itself. "Our scenario begins with the arrival. Your arrival." World Premiere
Next <=>
Pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling populate this program. Digital technology paired with unfettered creativity promises that the films in this section will shape a “greater” next wave in American cinema. Presented by Adobe.
Bob and the Trees / U.S.A., France (Director: Diego Ongaro, Screenwriters: Diego Ongaro, Courtney Maum, Sasha Statman-Weil) — Bob, a 50-year-old logger in rural Massachusetts with a soft spot for golf and gangsta rap, is struggling to make ends meet in a changed economy. When his beloved cow is wounded and a job goes awry, Bob begins to heed the instincts of his ever-darkening self. Cast: Bob Tarasuk, Matt Gallagher, Polly MacIntyre, Winthrop Barrett, Nathaniel Gregory. World Premiere
Christmas, Again / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Charles Poekel) — A heartbroken Christmas tree salesman returns to New York, hoping to put the past year behind him. He spends the season living in a trailer and working the night shift, until a mysterious woman and some colorful customers rescue him from self-destruction. Cast: Kentucker Audley, Hannah Gross, Jason Shelton, Oona Roche. North American Premiere
Cronies / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Larnell) — Twenty-two-year-old Louis doesn’t know whether his childhood friendship with Jack will last beyond today. Cast: George Sample III, Zurich Buckner, Brian Kowalski. World Premiere
Entertainment / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Gregg Turkington, Tim Heidecker) — En route to meeting with his estranged daughter, in an attempt to revive his dwindling career, a broken, aging comedian plays a string of dead-end shows in the Mojave Desert. Cast: Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, Lotte Verbeek. World Premiere
H. / U.S.A., Argentina (Directors and screenwriters: Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcia) — Two women, each named Helen, find their lives spinning out of control after a meteor allegedly explodes over their city of Troy, New York. Cast: Robin Bartlett, Rebecca Dayan, Will Janowitz, Julian Gamble, Roger Robinson. World Premiere
James White / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Josh Mond) — A young New Yorker struggles to take control of his reckless, self-destructive behavior in the face of momentous family challenges. Cast: Chris Abbott, Cynthia Nixon, Scott Mescudi, Makenzie Leigh, David Call. World Premiere
Nasty Baby / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sebastian Silva) — A gay couple try to have a baby with the help of their best friend, Polly. The trio navigates the idea of creating life while confronted by unexpected harassment from a neighborhood man called The Bishop. As their clashes grow increasingly aggressive, odds are someone is getting hurt. Cast: Sebastian Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, Kristin Wiig, Reg E. Cathey, Mark Margolis, Denis O'Hare. World Premiere
The Strongest Man / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kenny Riches) — An anxiety-ridden Cuban man who fancies himself the strongest man in the world attempts to recover his most prized possession, a stolen bicycle. On his quest, he finds and loses much more. Cast: Robert Lorie, Paul Chamberlain, Ashly Burch, Patrick Fugit, Lisa Banes. World Premiere
" Take Me To The River " / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Matt Sobel) — A naive California teen plans to remain above the fray at his Nebraskan family reunion, but a strange encounter places him at the center of a long-buried family secret.Cast: Logan Miller, Robin Weigert, Josh Hamilton, Richard Schiff, Ursula Parker, Azura Skye. World Premiere. Producer rep: Cinetic Media
Tangerine / U.S.A. (Director: Sean Baker, Screenwriters: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch) — A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart. Cast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan, Alla Tumanyan, James Ransone. World Premiere
Spotlight
Regardless of where these films have played throughout the world, the Spotlight program is a tribute to the cinema we love.
6 Desires: Dh Lawrence and Sardinia / United Kingdom, Italy (Director: Mark Cousins) — In winter 1921, Dh Lawrence and his wife journeyed to Sardinia, and he chronicled their experiences in Sea and Sardinia. Now, Mark Cousins retraces Lawrence’s footsteps. The film is conceived partly as a letter to Lawrence — or “Bert” — a detail that’s typical of the film’s inviting sense of conversational intimacy.International Premiere
'71 / United Kingdom (Director: Yann Demange, Screenwriter: Gregory Burke) — ‘71 takes place over a single night in the life of a young British soldier accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971. Unable to tell friend from foe, he must survive the night alone and find his way to safety. Cast: Jack O'Connell, Paul Anderson, Richard Dormer, Sean Harris, Barry Keoghan, Martin McCann.
99 Homes / U.S.A. (Director: Ramin Bahrani, Screenwriters: Ramin Bahrani, Amir Naderi, Bahareh Azimi) — A father struggles to get back the home that his family was evicted from by working for the greedy real-estate broker who's the source of his frustration. Cast: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern, Tim Guinee, Cullen Moss, J.D. Evermore.
Aloft / Spain, France, Canada (Director and screenwriter: Claudia Llosa) — Aloft tells the story of a struggling mother, Nana, and her evolution to becoming a renowned healer. When a young artist tracks down Nana's son 20 years after she abandoned him, she sets in motion an encounter between the two that will bring the meaning of their lives into question. Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Cillian Murphy, Mélanie Laurent, William Shimell. North American Premiere
Eden / France (Director: Mia Hansen-løve, Screenwriters: Mia Hansen-løve, Sven Hansen-løve) — Mia Hansen-løve's electronic-dance-music epic follows the rise and fall of a DJ (based on her brother, Sven, a contemporary of Daft Punk) who gets into the rave scene in 1994 and spends the next 20 years navigating the French club scene. Cast: Félix de Givry, Pauline Etienne, Greta Gerwig, Brady Corbet, Arsinee Khanjian, Vincent Macaigne.
Girlhood / France (Director and screenwriter: Céline Sciamma) — Oppressed by her family, dead-end school prospects, and the boys law in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of free-spirited girls. She changes her name and dress, and quits school to be accepted in the gang, hoping to find a way to freedom. Cast: Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh, Mariétou Touré, Idrissa Diabaté, Simina Soumaré.
The Tribe / Ukraine (Director and screenwriter: Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy) — Set at a Ukrainian boarding school for the deaf, the film’s narrative unfolds purely through sign language without the need for employing subtitles or voiceover, resulting in a unique, never-before-seen cinematic experience that engages the audience on a new level. Cast: Grigoriy Fesenko, Yana Novikova, Rosa Babiy, Alexander Dsiadevich.
White God / Hungary (Director: Kornél Mundruczó, Screenwriters: Kata Wéber, Kornél Mundruczó, Viktória Petrányi) — When young Lili is forced to give up her beloved dog, Hagen, because its mixed-breed heritage is deemed “unfit” by The State, she and the dog begin a dangerous journey back toward each other. Cast: Zsófia Psotta, Sandor Zsótér, Szabolcs Thuróczy, Lili Monori, László Gálffi, Lili Horváth. U.S. Premiere
Wild Tales / Argentina, Spain (Director and screenwriter: Damián Szifrón) — Inequality, injustice, and the demands of the world cause stress and depression for many people. Some of them, however, explode. This is a movie about those people. Vulnerable in the face of an unpredictable reality, the characters of Wild Tales cross the thin line dividing civilization and barbarism. Cast: Ricardo Darín, Julieta Zyberberg, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Darío Grandinetti, Erica Rivas, Oscar Martínez.
Park City At Midnight
From horror flicks to comedies to works that defy any genre, these unruly films will keep you edge-seated and wide awake.
Cop Car / U.S.A. (Director: Jon Watts, Screenwriters: Christopher D. Ford, Jon Watts) — Two 10-year-old boys steal an abandoned cop car. Cast: Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford, Shea Whigham, Camryn Manheim. World Premiere
The Hallow / Ireland, United Kingdom (Director: Corin Hardy, Screenwriters: Corin Hardy, Felipe Marino) — When a London-based conservationist is sent to Ireland to survey an area of ancient forest believed by the superstitious locals to be hallowed ground, he unwittingly disturbs a horde of terrifying beings and must fight to protect his family. Cast: Joseph Mawle, Bojana Novakovic, Michael McElhatton, Michael Smiley. World Premiere
Hellions / Canada (Director: Bruce McDonald, Screenwriter: Pascal Trottier) — Teenage Dora Vogel must survive a Halloween night from hell when malevolent trick-or-treaters come knocking at her door. Cast: Chloe Rose, Robert Patrick, Rossif Sutherland, Rachel Wilson, Peter DaCunha, Luke Bilyk. World Premiere
It Follows / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: David Robert Mitchell) — After a strange sexual encounter, a teenager finds herself haunted by nightmarish visions and the inescapable sense that something is after her. Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi, Lili Sepe.
Knock Knock / U.S.A. (Director: Eli Roth, Screenwriters: Eli Roth, Nicolas Lopez, Guillermo Amoedo) — Two beautiful young girls walk into a married man's life and turn a wild fantasy into his worst nightmare. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana De Armas, Aaron Burns, Ignacia Allamand, Colleen Camp. World Premiere
The Nightmare / U.S.A. (Director: Rodney Ascher) — A documentary-horror film exploring the phenomenon of sleep paralysis through the eyes of eight people. They (and a surprisingly large number of others) often find themselves trapped between the sleeping and awake realms, unable to move but aware of their surroundings while subject to disturbing sights and sounds. World Premiere
Reversal / U.S.A. (Director: J.M Cravioto, Screenwriters: Rock Shaink, Keith Kjornes) — A gritty psychological thriller about a young woman chained in a basement of a sexual predator and manages to escape. However, right when she has a chance for freedom, she unravels a hard truth and decides to turn the tables on her captor. Cast: Tina Ivlev, Richard Tyson, Bianca Malinowski. World Premiere
Turbo Kid / Canada, New Zealand (Directors: Anouk Whissell, Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell, Screenwriters: Anouk Whissell, Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell) — In a post-apocalyptic future, The Kid, an orphaned outcast, meets a mysterious girl. They become friends until Zeus, the sadistic leader of the Wasteland, kidnaps her. The Kid must face his fears, and journey to rid the Wasteland of evil and save the girl. Cast: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffery, Edwin Wright. World Premiere
New Frontier Films
The Forbidden Room / Canada (Directors: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Screenwriters: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Robert Kotyk) — A submarine crew, a feared pack of forest bandits, a famous surgeon, and a battalion of child soldiers all get more than they bargained for as they wend their way toward progressive ideas on life and love. Cast: Geraldine Chaplin, Caroline Dhavernas, Roy Dupuis, Udo Kier, Charlotte Rampling, Karine Vanasse. World Premiere
Liveforever / Colombia, Mexico (Director: Carlos Moreno, Screenwriters: Alberto Ferreras, Alonso Torres, Carlos Moreno) — Driven by the music and dancing she finds along the way, a teenager leaves home willing to try anything her provocative and tolerant city has to offer, even if she burns out in the process. Inspired by the best-selling novel "Que viva la música" by Andres Caicedo. Cast: Paulina Davila, Alejandra Avila, Luis Arrieta, Juan Pablo Barragan, Nelson Camayo, Christian Tappan. World Premiere
The Royal Road / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jenni Olson) — This cinematic essay, a defense of remembering, offers up a primer on the Spanish colonization of California and the Mexican American War alongside intimate reflections on nostalgia, butch identity and Alfred Hitchcock'sVertigo — all against a contemplative backdrop of 16mm urban California landscapes. Cast: Jenni Olson, Tony Kushner. World Premiere
Sam Klemke's Time Machine / Australia (Director: Matthew Bate) — Sam Klemke has filmed and narrated 50 years of his life, creating a strange and intimate portrait of what it means to be human. World Premiere
Station to Station / U.S.A. (Director: Doug Aitken) — Station to Station is composed of 60 individual one-minute films featuring different artists, musicians, places, and perspectives. This revolutionary feature-length film reveals a larger narrative about modern creativity. World Premiere
Things of the Aimless Wanderer / Rwanda, United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Kivu Ruhorahoza) — A white man meets a black girl, then she disappears. The white man tries to understand what happened to her while also trying to finish a travelogue. Things of the Aimless Wanderer is a film about the sensitive topic of relations between “locals” and Westerners, about paranoia, mistrust, and misunderstandings. Cast: Justin Mullikin, Grace Nikuze, Ramadhan Bizimana, Eliane Umuhire, Wesley Ruzibiza, Matt Ray Brown. World Premiere
New Frontier Installations
1979 Revolution Game
Artists: Navid Khonsari, Vassiliki Khonsari
1979 Revolution Game presents an innovative approach to non-fiction storytelling. Designed to engage players with an immersive "on the ground" experience of the Iranian Revolution, the game integrates an emotionally impactful narrative with interactive moral choices and intuitive touchscreen gameplay while remaining true to history.
Assent
Artist: Oscar Raby
This immersive documentary uses virtual reality technology to put the user in the footsteps of Director Oscar Raby's father, who in 1973 was a 22-year-old army officer stationed in the north of Chile, on the day when the Caravan of Death came to his regiment.
Birdly
Artist: Max Rheiner
Flying is one of the oldest dreams of humankind. Birdly is an experiment to capture this dream, to simulate the experience of being a bird from a first-person perspective. This embodiment is conducted through a full-body virtual reality setup.
Dérive
Artist: François Quévillon
This interactive installation uses the audience’s body motions and positions to explore 3-D reconstructions of urban and natural spaces that are transformed according to live environmental data, including meteorological and astronomical phenomena.
Evolution of Verse
Artist: Chris Milk
Chris Milk, working with visual effects powerhouse Digital Domain and virtual reality production company Vrse.works, has created this photo-realistic CGI-rendered 3-D virtual reality film that takes the viewer on a journey from beginning to new beginning.
Kaiju Fury!
Artist: Ian Hunter
A dark energy experiment leads to a devastating attack by monstrous Kaiju, and you are standing at ground zero — all in 360-degree, stereoscopic 3-D cinematic virtual reality. You will "be there" as the beasts lay waste to a crumbling city and humanity makes its last stand. Cast: Susie Abromeit, Bill Lippincott, Daniel Martin, Brian Dodge, Vincient Chiantelli.
Paradise
Artist: Pleix
Paradise is certainly not paradisiacal if you look at it through our eyes. But neither is it totally devoid of humor, melancholy and absurdity. Perhaps it is first and foremost life as it is, and then a touch exaggerated in the digital overdrive.
Perspective; Chapter I: The Party
Artists: Rose Troche, Morris May
A young college woman attends a party with the intention of shedding her "shy girl" persona. At the same party, a young man is after a similar reinvention. They meet, drink, and misinterpreted signals turn into things that cannot be undone. Virtual reality simulators let viewers experience both characters. Cast: Tabitha Morella, Caleb Thomas, Zachary Zagoria, Anna Grace Barlow.
Possibilia
Artists: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
tt3694760 autoPossibil...
- 12/6/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The competition movie line-up has been revealed for the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 22nd to February 1st 2015. Below the announcement video you'll find the U.S. and World Competition categories, as well as the Next section.
Out of the 12,166 submissions that the festival received this year only 185 were selected. It looks like there are going to be a lot of great films this year. I always enjoy going to Sundance because you never know what film gems are just waiting to be seen.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a first look at groundbreaking new voices in American independent film.
Advantageous / U.S.A. (Director: Jennifer Phang, Screenwriters: Jacqueline Kim, Jennifer Phang) — In a near-future city where soaring opulence overshadows economic hardship, Gwen and her daughter, Jules, do all they can to hold on to their joy,...
Out of the 12,166 submissions that the festival received this year only 185 were selected. It looks like there are going to be a lot of great films this year. I always enjoy going to Sundance because you never know what film gems are just waiting to be seen.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a first look at groundbreaking new voices in American independent film.
Advantageous / U.S.A. (Director: Jennifer Phang, Screenwriters: Jacqueline Kim, Jennifer Phang) — In a near-future city where soaring opulence overshadows economic hardship, Gwen and her daughter, Jules, do all they can to hold on to their joy,...
- 12/4/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Today the first wave of titles playing at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival were announced and while the majority of the titles are new to me the names in front of the camera most certainly are not as you'll see the likes of Michael Fassbender, Nicole Kidman, Saoirse Ronan, Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Jack Black, James Marsden, Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Jemaine Clement, Sarah Silverman, Toni Collette, Vincent Cassell and many, many more among the titles featured. I have collected several photos from many of the films playing the festival, which will take place from January 22 - February 1 in Utah next year. Today's selection includes the U.S. Dramatic Competition, U.S. Documentary Competition, World Cinema Dramatic Competition, World Cinema Documentary Competition and Next program. I'll be adding a few more pictures soon enough, but for now, have a look and see what stands out.
- 12/3/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
America’s hottest and most eagerly anticipated film festival is nearly upon us! Running January 22 to February 1, 2015 in Park City, Utah, the annual Sundance Film Festival has launched its initial lineup of in-competition films in the Dramatic, World Cinema, Documentary and Next slates. In all, 66 films were announced in this initial lineup, with the Premieres and Documentary Premieres arriving December 8 and the Short Film slate arriving December 9.
Among the lineup, as always, are some intriguing prospects. The Us Dramatic Competition features films starring stars such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Chris Pine (Z for Zachariah), Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor (The D Train), Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Christopher Meloni, Kristen Wiig (The Diary of a Teenage Girl), Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman (The Overnight), and Sarah Silverman (I Smile Back), among many others, and new films from recently hot directors including Alfonso-Gomez Rejon, Andrew Bujalski, and Craig Zobel.
Among the lineup, as always, are some intriguing prospects. The Us Dramatic Competition features films starring stars such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Chris Pine (Z for Zachariah), Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor (The D Train), Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Christopher Meloni, Kristen Wiig (The Diary of a Teenage Girl), Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman (The Overnight), and Sarah Silverman (I Smile Back), among many others, and new films from recently hot directors including Alfonso-Gomez Rejon, Andrew Bujalski, and Craig Zobel.
- 12/3/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Last year’s Next section introduced us to new breed of filmmakers in Desiree Akhavan, Sydney Freeland, Madeleine Olnek, Ana Lily Amirpour, Malik Vitthal and Gillian Robespierre while re-introducing us to the likes of Alex Ross Perry, Tim Sutton, Michael Tully, Mark Jackson, Martha Stephens & Aaron Katz. With the likes of Josh Mond (see James White pic above), Rick Alverson, Sean Baker and Matt Sobel, the section comprised of ten films (with two non-world premieres in the Locarno preemed Christmas, Again and Venice Film Festival shown H.) distinctly feels avantgarde. Here are the batch of ten films.
Bob and the Trees / U.S.A., France (Director: Diego Ongaro, Screenwriters: Diego Ongaro, Courtney Maum, Sasha Statman-Weil) — Bob, a 50-year-old logger in rural Massachusetts with a soft spot for golf and gangsta rap, is struggling to make ends meet in a changed economy. When his beloved cow is wounded and a job goes awry,...
Bob and the Trees / U.S.A., France (Director: Diego Ongaro, Screenwriters: Diego Ongaro, Courtney Maum, Sasha Statman-Weil) — Bob, a 50-year-old logger in rural Massachusetts with a soft spot for golf and gangsta rap, is struggling to make ends meet in a changed economy. When his beloved cow is wounded and a job goes awry,...
- 12/3/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
New films from Nicole Kidman, Michael Fassbender, Louie Psihoyos and Sebastian Silva are featured in the festival’s line-up of Us and world competition strands and the Next programme.
Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper and head of programming Trevor Groth have unleashed their first volley of films in what will be a 118-strong line-up overall culled from 12,166 submissions. Of these, 103 features are world premieres. The festival will run January 22 to February 1.
Us Dramatic Competition includes Craig Zobel’s post-apocalytpic tale Z For Zachariah starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine; Jack Black in comedy The D Train; and Kristen Wiig in the 1970s San Francisco-set coming-of-age story The Diary Of A Teenage Girl.
Other likely highlights are Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s The Stanford Prison Experiment starring Billy Crudup and Ezra Miller; and Saoirse Ronan in Stockholm, Pennsylvania, about a young woman who returns to live with her parents after she is freed from her abductor of 17 years...
Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper and head of programming Trevor Groth have unleashed their first volley of films in what will be a 118-strong line-up overall culled from 12,166 submissions. Of these, 103 features are world premieres. The festival will run January 22 to February 1.
Us Dramatic Competition includes Craig Zobel’s post-apocalytpic tale Z For Zachariah starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine; Jack Black in comedy The D Train; and Kristen Wiig in the 1970s San Francisco-set coming-of-age story The Diary Of A Teenage Girl.
Other likely highlights are Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s The Stanford Prison Experiment starring Billy Crudup and Ezra Miller; and Saoirse Ronan in Stockholm, Pennsylvania, about a young woman who returns to live with her parents after she is freed from her abductor of 17 years...
- 12/3/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
How important is the Sundance Film Festival's Next program? The yearly slate of edgier fare has led to critically acclaimed art house hits such as "Obvious Child," "Listen Up Phillip" and "Sound of My Voice." It also has inspired the Los Angeles-based Sundance Next Festival, which just wrapped up its second edition this past August. So while it may not have the prestige of the U.S. dramatic competition, Next films are something any movie lover should pay attention to. Along with the top competition categories, the Sundance Institute announced the Next slate for the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and it features some indie star power. Kristen Wiig stars in Sundance alum Sebastian Silva's "Nasty Baby" (which makes it back-to-back festivals for the "Skeleton Twins" star), John C. Reilly and Michael Cera appear in the comedy "Entertainment" and former "Girls" star Chris Abbott and Cynthia Nixon star in Josh Mond's "James White.
- 12/3/2014
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
The Big Bang Theory: E4, 8pm
This week's episode sees Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) attempt to distract Sheldon (Jim Parsons) from his career problems by reinstating 'Anything Can Happen' Thursday.
Their attempt to be spontaneous leads to unexpected friction among the gang when Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) are caught out lying to the others.
Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard (Simon Helberg) watch a horror film to help Raj prepare for a date with Emily.
Playhouse Presents: Timeless: Sky Arts 1, 9pm
Cara Delevingne makes her acting debut in the final episode of the Playhouse Presents series as Chloe, whose soldier fiancé has recently been posted in Afghanistan.
However, Chloe thinks her world has been torn apart when a military officer (Jaye Griffiths) arrives on their doorstep with news of a death. Also starring Sylvia Syms.
The Good Wife: More4, 9pm...
This week's episode sees Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) attempt to distract Sheldon (Jim Parsons) from his career problems by reinstating 'Anything Can Happen' Thursday.
Their attempt to be spontaneous leads to unexpected friction among the gang when Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) are caught out lying to the others.
Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard (Simon Helberg) watch a horror film to help Raj prepare for a date with Emily.
Playhouse Presents: Timeless: Sky Arts 1, 9pm
Cara Delevingne makes her acting debut in the final episode of the Playhouse Presents series as Chloe, whose soldier fiancé has recently been posted in Afghanistan.
However, Chloe thinks her world has been torn apart when a military officer (Jaye Griffiths) arrives on their doorstep with news of a death. Also starring Sylvia Syms.
The Good Wife: More4, 9pm...
- 6/19/2014
- Digital Spy
Louie Season 4, Episodes 5 & 6 “Elevator (Parts 2 & 3)”
Written by Louis C.K.
Directed by Louis C.K.
Airs Mondays at 10pm Et on FX
“You know the only thing happier than a three-legged dog? A four-legged dog.”
Things can always be better – and then again, things can always be worse. It’s the great balance of our weird existence, this constant need for us to both seek happiness and express dissatisfaction, often in the same breath – and in the fourth season of Louie (much like the third), this idea’s come through with Louis C.K.’s examination of his relationships with women, the singular forces on our planet that (speaking as a man, of course) both give life and enrich it, bringing beauty and giving definition to a world that would otherwise be dominated by bang-bangs, homoerotic jokes (which would eventually turn into shit-flinging fistfights), and penis-measuring contests.
The only problem is, we really...
Written by Louis C.K.
Directed by Louis C.K.
Airs Mondays at 10pm Et on FX
“You know the only thing happier than a three-legged dog? A four-legged dog.”
Things can always be better – and then again, things can always be worse. It’s the great balance of our weird existence, this constant need for us to both seek happiness and express dissatisfaction, often in the same breath – and in the fourth season of Louie (much like the third), this idea’s come through with Louis C.K.’s examination of his relationships with women, the singular forces on our planet that (speaking as a man, of course) both give life and enrich it, bringing beauty and giving definition to a world that would otherwise be dominated by bang-bangs, homoerotic jokes (which would eventually turn into shit-flinging fistfights), and penis-measuring contests.
The only problem is, we really...
- 5/20/2014
- by Randy Dankievitch
- SoundOnSight
Louis C.K. has a bunch of stand-up bits built around the idea that young kids — his in particular — are assholes, douchebags, and jerks. Well, he's certainly carried that idea over into his TV show. On Louie, Ursula Parker plays C.K.'s fictional younger daughter, Jane, and has perfected the art of the spoiled-child whine. Whether she's fighting over food, begging for a pet, or just generally bored, Jane's sneer has become one of the show's hidden hallmarks. After last night's Louie episode, in which Jane was placed in (thankfully temporary) danger, we wanted to pay tribute to her unique brand of petulance, so we put together this supercut of all of her whining throughout the series. Pleeeeeeeease watch it? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease? C'mooooooon!
- 5/13/2014
- by Abraham Riesman,Denise Martin
- Vulture
Normally, Louis C.K.’s adorable TV daughter Jane is the best. She busts thieves, complains about injustice, and always shoots straight, even if it’s rarely what her father wants to hear. (Back in season two, she explained sweetly, “I like Mama’s better because she makes good food and I love her more so I like being there more.”) So when Jane stepped off the subway train all alone during last night’s episode, “Elevator,” and even though I know Louie is not the kind of comedy in which something really bad would happen to her, the panic was real. Ursula Parker, the 10-year-old actress who plays Jane, called Vulture after school last week to talk about what it’s like working on the show and tell us what the only acceptable time to jump off a subway car is. She also talked about her violin- (and lyre-) playing,...
- 5/13/2014
- by Denise Martin
- Vulture
Louie, Season 4, Episodes 1 and 2, “Back” and “Model”
Written and Directed by Louis C.K.
Louie is utterly unique to the television landscape. There are very, very few shows of which this can be said. It’s part standup, part experimental film, part character study, part whatever else Louis C.K. wants it to be, and in its first three seasons, the series that started out well grew increasingly confident, playing with form and stretching C.K. as a filmmaker and storyteller. After C.K. decided to take 2013 off, some viewers may have been concerned he wouldn’t be able to recapture the magic of the first three seasons. Fortunately, with “Back” and “Model”, C.K. picks up right where he left off, as sure and relaxed as ever.
The first episode of the season, “Back”, follows the model of the first season, with a series of vignettes loosely following Louie (Louis C.K.) through his day.
Written and Directed by Louis C.K.
Louie is utterly unique to the television landscape. There are very, very few shows of which this can be said. It’s part standup, part experimental film, part character study, part whatever else Louis C.K. wants it to be, and in its first three seasons, the series that started out well grew increasingly confident, playing with form and stretching C.K. as a filmmaker and storyteller. After C.K. decided to take 2013 off, some viewers may have been concerned he wouldn’t be able to recapture the magic of the first three seasons. Fortunately, with “Back” and “Model”, C.K. picks up right where he left off, as sure and relaxed as ever.
The first episode of the season, “Back”, follows the model of the first season, with a series of vignettes loosely following Louie (Louis C.K.) through his day.
- 5/6/2014
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
Why do we laugh? If you believe Freud, it’s the same reason why we dream: to satisfy unconscious desires that society usually forbids. So there must be a wink behind the strange and wonderful new season of Louie (premiering tonight), which often uses dream logic in place of jokes. The second episode, “Model,” finds Louie (Louis C.K.) hooking up with a rich young beauty (Yvonne Strahovski) whose astronaut father walked on the moon. When he admits that things like this don’t usually happen to him, the woman shrugs, “Well, maybe it’s not really happening.” “Elevator Part 1″ opens...
- 5/5/2014
- by Melissa Maerz
- EW.com - PopWatch
Principal photography has finished in Los Angeles on the caper starring Linda Cardellini, Skeet Ulrich, Craig Robinson, Kristen Schaal and Ursula Parker.
Lost In Austin tells of a bored mother who arranges for her ex-boyfriend to kidnap her daughter in an attempt to turn her family into celebrities.
Jon Daly, Jaime Pressly, Chris Parnell, Matt Jones and Patrick Warburton round out the key cast.
Director Will Raee co-wrote the screenplay with Brenna Graziano.
Mary Pat Bentel, Ted Deiker, Bob Ruggeri and Gary Ousdahl are producing while Cardellini (pictured) serves as executive producer alongside Daniel Costanzo.
Lost In Austin tells of a bored mother who arranges for her ex-boyfriend to kidnap her daughter in an attempt to turn her family into celebrities.
Jon Daly, Jaime Pressly, Chris Parnell, Matt Jones and Patrick Warburton round out the key cast.
Director Will Raee co-wrote the screenplay with Brenna Graziano.
Mary Pat Bentel, Ted Deiker, Bob Ruggeri and Gary Ousdahl are producing while Cardellini (pictured) serves as executive producer alongside Daniel Costanzo.
- 3/25/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The sophomore effort from Tze Chun (Children of Invention), thriller Cold Comes the Night, uses invigorated noir conventions to evoke the betrayed modern social compact in a dreary, post-industrial strip of upstate New York. Chloe (Alice Eve), a poor widow and single mother, manages a fleabag motel, the type that charges prostitutes and johns by the hour. Social Services is on Chloe’s case for providing such a rotten environment for her eight-year-old daughter Sophia (Ursula Parker), giving her two weeks to straighten out their circumstances before they intervene. Then things get worse — a Slavic drug runner named Topo (Breaking Bad‘s Bryan […]...
- 1/12/2014
- by Brandon Harris
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
The sophomore effort from Tze Chun (Children of Invention), thriller Cold Comes the Night, uses invigorated noir conventions to evoke the betrayed modern social compact in a dreary, post-industrial strip of upstate New York. Chloe (Alice Eve), a poor widow and single mother, manages a fleabag motel, the type that charges prostitutes and johns by the hour. Social Services is on Chloe’s case for providing such a rotten environment for her eight-year-old daughter Sophia (Ursula Parker), giving her two weeks to straighten out their circumstances before they intervene. Then things get worse — a Slavic drug runner named Topo (Breaking Bad‘s Bryan […]...
- 1/12/2014
- by Brandon Harris
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Armed with a ridiculously comical Eastern European accent, Topo (Bryan Cranston) is an aged hit man currently employed as an errand boy for a presumably ruthless Québécois mobster. When the latest package that Topo is assigned to deliver goes missing, Chloe (Alice Eve) -- the economically desperate proprietor of a seedy motel near the Canada-United States boarder -- seems to be his only key to regaining possession of the mysterious package. Topo's poor eyesight may render him almost powerless, but he is able to motivate Chloe to assist him by threatening the wellbeing of her young daughter (Ursula Parker).
- 1/9/2014
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
The crime thriller Cold Comes the Night will show in theatres January 10th, 2014. This title will release through video-on-demand formats this same day. Cold Comes the Night was developed by writer and director Tze Chun. And, the film stars Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness), Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus), and Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"). Theatrical times for the launch are below. Cold Comes the Night involves a mom caught in desperate scenario. Chloe (Eve) finds an anonymous bag of money, which she needs for her child. But, a near-blind killer is on her trail. The trailer for Cold Comes the Night is below. The clip shows more of the film's story and characters. This title will play in at least ten states, in just a few days. Release Date: January 10th, 2014 (VOD, Theatres). Director: Tze Chun. Writers: Tze Chun, Oz Perkins and Nick Simon. Cast: Alice Eve, Bryan Cranston, Logan Marshall-Green,...
- 1/9/2014
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Coming off the final season of AMC’s brilliant drama series Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston has already earned the respect and admiration of every critic and viewer out there. As chemistry teacher-turned-meth kingpin Walter White, Cranston commanded the small screen with shattering force and, throughout five wonderful seasons, developed one of the most complex antiheroes in television history. As that show concluded, fans mourned not only the loss of Breaking Bad as a whole but also Cranston’s incredible performance. Many questioned whether we’d ever see the actor as anything other than Walter White again.
So, it’s refreshing to see that in Cold Comes the Night, a tense and effective modern film-noir, the actor isn’t content to live off the sizable goodwill that Breaking Bad has afforded him. As near-blind Polish career criminal Topo, Cranston is an exceptionally strong antagonist, equal parts menacing and mysterious. Saddled with a thick accent,...
So, it’s refreshing to see that in Cold Comes the Night, a tense and effective modern film-noir, the actor isn’t content to live off the sizable goodwill that Breaking Bad has afforded him. As near-blind Polish career criminal Topo, Cranston is an exceptionally strong antagonist, equal parts menacing and mysterious. Saddled with a thick accent,...
- 1/8/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Sneak Peek director Tze Chun's new crime thriller "Cold Comes the Night", starring Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"), Alice Eve ("Star Trek Into Darkness"), Logan Marshall-Green, Ursula Parker and Leo Fitzpatrick.
"...a motel owner and her daughter are taken hostage by a nearly blind Polish criminal...
"He makes them his 'eyes' as he attempts to retrieve his cash package from a crooked cop..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Cold Comes The Night"...
"...a motel owner and her daughter are taken hostage by a nearly blind Polish criminal...
"He makes them his 'eyes' as he attempts to retrieve his cash package from a crooked cop..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Cold Comes The Night"...
- 11/29/2013
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
A familiar-feeling crime thriller is enlivened by unexpectedly down-to-earth, hardbitten characters weighed down by the mundane weariness of life on the edge. I’m “biast” (pro): like the cast
I’m “biast” (con): wasn’t completely taken with the trailer
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
There’s bloodied cash flying around as Cold Comes the Night opens, a tantalizing flashforward hint of what’s to come, so you know it won’t end well. (The title is a good one, perhaps, for a thriller, but it’s apparently a random one here. Wait! *Googles in case this is a literary illusion I’m unaware of.* Nope, it’s random.) But it doesn’t really start well, either, for single mom Chloe (Alice Eve: Star Trek Into Darkness). She’s the manager of a rundown motel in rural upstate New York, and social services is...
I’m “biast” (con): wasn’t completely taken with the trailer
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
There’s bloodied cash flying around as Cold Comes the Night opens, a tantalizing flashforward hint of what’s to come, so you know it won’t end well. (The title is a good one, perhaps, for a thriller, but it’s apparently a random one here. Wait! *Googles in case this is a literary illusion I’m unaware of.* Nope, it’s random.) But it doesn’t really start well, either, for single mom Chloe (Alice Eve: Star Trek Into Darkness). She’s the manager of a rundown motel in rural upstate New York, and social services is...
- 9/19/2013
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
★★☆☆☆ After earning praise for his first feature Children of Invention (2010), Tze Chun returns to cinemas with follow-up Cold Comes The Night (2013). Whilst the presence of Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston will undoubtedly pique interest, Chun's latest is an overly safe sophomore offering. Set against a wintry backdrop, Cold Comes the Night centres on Chloe (Alice Eve), a single mother who runs a shabby motel with her daughter, Sophia (Ursula Parker). She allows a prostitution ring to run on the premises under the supervision of bent cop Billy (Logan Marshall-Green), whose affection for Chloe is never reciprocated.
En route to deliver cash to his boss, near-blind Polish criminal Topo (Cranston) comes to the motel for the night, but after his driver is killed in an accident the felon forces Chloe to help him recover his stolen money. Though frightened, Chloe attempts to capitalise on the situation by making a deal with...
En route to deliver cash to his boss, near-blind Polish criminal Topo (Cranston) comes to the motel for the night, but after his driver is killed in an accident the felon forces Chloe to help him recover his stolen money. Though frightened, Chloe attempts to capitalise on the situation by making a deal with...
- 9/19/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Having made a huge success for himself in American TV series Breaking Bad, all eyes are on actor Bryan Cranston, as he appears in one of only a handful of leading cinematic roles since the drama became the powerhouse it has grown to be. However, and despite turning in a more than worthy performance, Tze Chun’s crime thriller Cold Comes the Night is not quite up to a similar standard, in what is a frustratingly conventional offering.
Alice Eve plays Chloe, a motel owner struggling financially, while beating off social services, who have their eyes on her daughter (Ursula Parker), given the dangerous conditions they live within. Such insecurity is a result of the dodgy guests that the motel attracts, one of which is the partially blind Russian gangster Topo (Cranston), who holds Chloe hostage as he requires her assistance in reclaiming a stash of money – which is currently in the possession of cop,...
Alice Eve plays Chloe, a motel owner struggling financially, while beating off social services, who have their eyes on her daughter (Ursula Parker), given the dangerous conditions they live within. Such insecurity is a result of the dodgy guests that the motel attracts, one of which is the partially blind Russian gangster Topo (Cranston), who holds Chloe hostage as he requires her assistance in reclaiming a stash of money – which is currently in the possession of cop,...
- 9/17/2013
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Bryan Cranston and Alice Eve feature in a new clip from upcoming thriller Cold Comes the Night.
Released exclusively through Digital Spy, the scene features Cranston as Russian gangster Topo in an early scene with Eve's struggling motel owner Chloe.
The near-blind Topo, who is hell-bent on stealing money from a corrupt cop (Logan Marshall-Green), takes Chloe hostage and blackmails her into acting as his eyes.
With her daughter's life at stake, Chloe is forced into a situation where she rapidly finds herself in over her head.
Directed and co-written by Tze Chun, Cold Comes the Night also stars Ursula Parker and Leo Fitzpatrick.
Chun's debut feature Children of Invention premiered at Sundance in 2009 and went on to win 17 awards across other festivals.
> Bryan Cranston, Alice Eve in 'Cold Comes the Night' UK poster
Cold Comes the Night will be released in the UK on September 20, with a...
Released exclusively through Digital Spy, the scene features Cranston as Russian gangster Topo in an early scene with Eve's struggling motel owner Chloe.
The near-blind Topo, who is hell-bent on stealing money from a corrupt cop (Logan Marshall-Green), takes Chloe hostage and blackmails her into acting as his eyes.
With her daughter's life at stake, Chloe is forced into a situation where she rapidly finds herself in over her head.
Directed and co-written by Tze Chun, Cold Comes the Night also stars Ursula Parker and Leo Fitzpatrick.
Chun's debut feature Children of Invention premiered at Sundance in 2009 and went on to win 17 awards across other festivals.
> Bryan Cranston, Alice Eve in 'Cold Comes the Night' UK poster
Cold Comes the Night will be released in the UK on September 20, with a...
- 9/13/2013
- Digital Spy
The UK poster for Cold Comes the Night has been released.
Star Trek Into Darkness actress Alice Eve stars in the thriller as a motel owner and single mother who is blackmailed into helping a near-blind Russian gangster (Bryan Cranston).
With her daughter's life at stake, Eve's Chloe is forced to help Cranston's Topo steal money from a corrupt cop (Logan Marshall-Green) by acting as his eyes.
Directed and co-written by Tze Chun, Cold Comes the Night also stars Ursula Parker and Leo Fitzpatrick.
Chun's debut feature Children of Invention premiered at Sundance in 2009 and went on to win 17 awards across other festivals.
Cold Comes the Night will be released in the UK on September 20, with a Us release date yet to be set.
Watch the trailer below:...
Star Trek Into Darkness actress Alice Eve stars in the thriller as a motel owner and single mother who is blackmailed into helping a near-blind Russian gangster (Bryan Cranston).
With her daughter's life at stake, Eve's Chloe is forced to help Cranston's Topo steal money from a corrupt cop (Logan Marshall-Green) by acting as his eyes.
Directed and co-written by Tze Chun, Cold Comes the Night also stars Ursula Parker and Leo Fitzpatrick.
Chun's debut feature Children of Invention premiered at Sundance in 2009 and went on to win 17 awards across other festivals.
Cold Comes the Night will be released in the UK on September 20, with a Us release date yet to be set.
Watch the trailer below:...
- 9/9/2013
- Digital Spy
The first trailer for Cold Comes the Night shows Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston as a near-blind Russian gangster.
The Tze Chun (Children of Invention)-directed thriller also features Star Trek into the Darkness actress Alice Eve.
Cold Comes the Night chronicles Eve as a financially strapped motel owner and single mother who finds herself caught up in a world of trouble after she is forced to help Cranston's criminal character.
Acting as his eyes, Eve must steal piles of cash from a crooked cop portrayed by Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) with her daughter's life at stake.
Previously titled Eye of Winter, the thriller features a cast ensemble of Ursula Parker (Rabbit Hole) and Leo Fitzpatrick (The Heart, She Hollar).
Cold Comes the Night will be released in the UK on September 20.
The film has yet to be given a Us release date.
The Tze Chun (Children of Invention)-directed thriller also features Star Trek into the Darkness actress Alice Eve.
Cold Comes the Night chronicles Eve as a financially strapped motel owner and single mother who finds herself caught up in a world of trouble after she is forced to help Cranston's criminal character.
Acting as his eyes, Eve must steal piles of cash from a crooked cop portrayed by Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) with her daughter's life at stake.
Previously titled Eye of Winter, the thriller features a cast ensemble of Ursula Parker (Rabbit Hole) and Leo Fitzpatrick (The Heart, She Hollar).
Cold Comes the Night will be released in the UK on September 20.
The film has yet to be given a Us release date.
- 9/4/2013
- Digital Spy
Cold Comes the Night Trailer. Tze Chun‘s Cold Comes the Night (2013) movie trailer stars Alice Eve, Bryan Cranston, Logan Marshall-Green, Ursula Parker, and Leo Fitzpatrick. Cold Comes the Night‘s plot synopsis: “A struggling motel owner and her daughter are taken hostage by a nearly blind career criminal to be his [...]
Continue reading: Cold Comes The Night (2013) Movie Trailer: Bryan Cranston is a Russian...
Continue reading: Cold Comes The Night (2013) Movie Trailer: Bryan Cranston is a Russian...
- 7/27/2013
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The first trailer for Bryan Cranston and Alice Eve's thriller Cold Comes the Night has been released. In the trailer, Eve's motel owner is struggling to take care of her daughter (Ursula Parker) when she stumbles upon what looks like a dead body and a bag of money. Cranston's career criminal then appears, demanding the cash. When she tells him it's gone, he takes her hostage. The two then face off, with Cranston's character threatening to "put [a] bullet in [her] little girl's ear" and Eve's character fighting back. The film was directed and co-written by Tze Chun. Sony
read more...
read more...
- 7/26/2013
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Pictures have announced that they have acquired the worldwide rights to Tze Chun’s Cold Comes the Night, and along with the announcement comes a very promising first trailer.
Alice Eve and Bryan Cranston look to be great in the joint leads, with Cranston taking much more of a central role than the more frequent supporting roles we’ve seen from him in recent years. And that can only be good news.
Cold Comes the Night tells the story of a struggling motel owner (Eve) who, along with her daughter (Parker), is taken hostage by a career criminal (Cranston) as he attempts to retrieve his cash package from a crooked cop (Marshall-Green). Everyone gets in over their heads, and a series of double-crosses leaves a string of dead bodies in this pulse-pounding story about desperation and survival.
Eve and Cranston star alongside Logan Marshall-Green and Ursula Parker.
Chun is making his sophomore feature,...
Alice Eve and Bryan Cranston look to be great in the joint leads, with Cranston taking much more of a central role than the more frequent supporting roles we’ve seen from him in recent years. And that can only be good news.
Cold Comes the Night tells the story of a struggling motel owner (Eve) who, along with her daughter (Parker), is taken hostage by a career criminal (Cranston) as he attempts to retrieve his cash package from a crooked cop (Marshall-Green). Everyone gets in over their heads, and a series of double-crosses leaves a string of dead bodies in this pulse-pounding story about desperation and survival.
Eve and Cranston star alongside Logan Marshall-Green and Ursula Parker.
Chun is making his sophomore feature,...
- 7/26/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.