Red Bull Studios and London-based Featuristic Films have partnered on “Art of the Jump,” a feature documentary about the life and career of Sébastien Foucan, a well-known French athlete.
Directed by James Kermack, the documentary follows Foucan’s humble upbringing in the French suburb of Lisses to sports stardom. Foucan is known for participating in extreme sports such as freerunning and parkour, where he crosses obstacles through the use of running, jumping, climbing and rolling.
The film is produced by Julien Loeffler and James Kermack for Featuristic Films and Philipp Manderla and Dominique Cutts for Red Bull Studios. Production on the film recently wrapped after shooting across the U.K. and France.
“Sébastien Foucan’s story is a testament to the power of determination, innovation and the relentless pursuit of one’s dreams, dreams that ultimately come at a cost,” said Kermack, who described Foucan as “a man who refuses...
Directed by James Kermack, the documentary follows Foucan’s humble upbringing in the French suburb of Lisses to sports stardom. Foucan is known for participating in extreme sports such as freerunning and parkour, where he crosses obstacles through the use of running, jumping, climbing and rolling.
The film is produced by Julien Loeffler and James Kermack for Featuristic Films and Philipp Manderla and Dominique Cutts for Red Bull Studios. Production on the film recently wrapped after shooting across the U.K. and France.
“Sébastien Foucan’s story is a testament to the power of determination, innovation and the relentless pursuit of one’s dreams, dreams that ultimately come at a cost,” said Kermack, who described Foucan as “a man who refuses...
- 11/13/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
UK production company is looking to make as many as 10 films this year.
Bardot and Cold Meat producer Featuristic Films has appointed former Motion Picture Capital production executive Laura Brook as head of film.
The appointment was confirmed this week by Julien Loeffler, managing director at the London-based company which is now looking to expand.
Brook’s appointment follows on from that of former UKTV and Wag Entertainment exec Meredith Coral as Featuristic Films’ head of TV last year.
At Motion Picture Capital Brook worked on projects such as Netflix’s The Titan and Kodachrome with Ed Harris, Elizabeth Olsen and Jason Sudeikis.
Bardot and Cold Meat producer Featuristic Films has appointed former Motion Picture Capital production executive Laura Brook as head of film.
The appointment was confirmed this week by Julien Loeffler, managing director at the London-based company which is now looking to expand.
Brook’s appointment follows on from that of former UKTV and Wag Entertainment exec Meredith Coral as Featuristic Films’ head of TV last year.
At Motion Picture Capital Brook worked on projects such as Netflix’s The Titan and Kodachrome with Ed Harris, Elizabeth Olsen and Jason Sudeikis.
- 5/31/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Fremantle has acquired global distribution rights to the upcoming Brigitte Bardot documentary.
TF1’s Bardot from Alain Berliner (Ma Vie en Rose), which will air later this year on the French network, is a 90-minute feature from Featuristic Films and Timpelpictures that aims to unearth the true life story of a “muse to the greatest artists who was often misunderstood.”
Fremantle will sell around the world and Deadline can reveal that the likes of Paul Watson, Claude Lelouch, Allain Bougrain-Dubourg and Jean-Max Rivière are taking part in the doc.
Bardot was one of the first French movie stars to attain worldwide fame. The And God Created Woman star lived a life under the spotlight, thrown from success to scandal until she almost completely disappeared. Seen in the present day as an enigma, Bardot, who will shortly turn 90, shares her current outlook on life, being ahead of her time on women’s rights,...
TF1’s Bardot from Alain Berliner (Ma Vie en Rose), which will air later this year on the French network, is a 90-minute feature from Featuristic Films and Timpelpictures that aims to unearth the true life story of a “muse to the greatest artists who was often misunderstood.”
Fremantle will sell around the world and Deadline can reveal that the likes of Paul Watson, Claude Lelouch, Allain Bougrain-Dubourg and Jean-Max Rivière are taking part in the doc.
Bardot was one of the first French movie stars to attain worldwide fame. The And God Created Woman star lived a life under the spotlight, thrown from success to scandal until she almost completely disappeared. Seen in the present day as an enigma, Bardot, who will shortly turn 90, shares her current outlook on life, being ahead of her time on women’s rights,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Brigitte Bardot to Be Focus of Documentary From ‘Ma Vie en Rose’ Director Alain Berliner (Exclusive)
Alain Berliner, who directed the BAFTA-nominated and Golden Globe-winning “Ma vie en rose,” is in pre-production on feature documentary “Bardot,” about French actor, singer and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot. Bardot is giving the project her full support, and will narrate the film herself.
“Bardot” is produced by Julien Loeffler, James Kermack and James Barton-Steel at Featuristic Films, teaming with Nicolas Bary at TimpelPictures. They have released an exclusive first look image from the film.
The film will offer Bardot an opportunity “to speak openly about her life and revisit some of the issues she feels passionately about,” such as women’s place in society, animal welfare, deforestation and global warming, according to a statement from the producers. It will contain never seen before archive film and photos, as well as music from the 1950s and 1960s.
Berliner said: “The icon that is Brigitte Bardot remains a mystery. Today, she should be considered a feminist,...
“Bardot” is produced by Julien Loeffler, James Kermack and James Barton-Steel at Featuristic Films, teaming with Nicolas Bary at TimpelPictures. They have released an exclusive first look image from the film.
The film will offer Bardot an opportunity “to speak openly about her life and revisit some of the issues she feels passionately about,” such as women’s place in society, animal welfare, deforestation and global warming, according to a statement from the producers. It will contain never seen before archive film and photos, as well as music from the 1950s and 1960s.
Berliner said: “The icon that is Brigitte Bardot remains a mystery. Today, she should be considered a feminist,...
- 5/18/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Artistic director Orwa Nyrabia talks female representation, Edward Snowden event, the future of the Edn and Saudi Arabia.
The International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (Idfa) got off to a powerful start on Wednesday evening (November 20) with Iranian work Sunless Shadows about a group of teenage girls serving time in a juvenile detention centre for murdering either their father, brother or another male relative.
It is the sixth feature documentary from Iranian director Mehrdad Oskouei, whose previous work Starless Dreams premiered in the Berlinale in 2016, where it won the Amnesty International Film Prize.
In a conversation with Screen, Idfa artistic director Nyrabia...
The International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (Idfa) got off to a powerful start on Wednesday evening (November 20) with Iranian work Sunless Shadows about a group of teenage girls serving time in a juvenile detention centre for murdering either their father, brother or another male relative.
It is the sixth feature documentary from Iranian director Mehrdad Oskouei, whose previous work Starless Dreams premiered in the Berlinale in 2016, where it won the Amnesty International Film Prize.
In a conversation with Screen, Idfa artistic director Nyrabia...
- 11/21/2019
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
Page Three Media and Artemis Productions, which backed “The Danish Girl,” announced in Cannes “Second to Nun,” a new feature from Golden Globe winning director Alain Berliner.
Berliner’s decades-ahead-of-its-time “Ma Vie en Rose,” the tale of a young transgender girl with dreams of growing into a mature woman and marrying the boy next door, was a breakout hit at Cannes, nominated at the Baftas and the French Academy César Awards and won a Golden Globe in 1997.
“Second to Nun” is a U.S., Belgium and France co-production which features a star international cast including Brigitte Fossey (“Cinema Paradiso”), Claudia Cardinale (“Once Upon a Time in the West”) Rossy de Palma (“Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”), Raul Torres (“Wonderstruck”) and Larry Cech (“Absinthe”). According to its producers, further cast additions are forthcoming.
Set in the South of France during the Cannes Film Festival, “Second to Nun” will...
Berliner’s decades-ahead-of-its-time “Ma Vie en Rose,” the tale of a young transgender girl with dreams of growing into a mature woman and marrying the boy next door, was a breakout hit at Cannes, nominated at the Baftas and the French Academy César Awards and won a Golden Globe in 1997.
“Second to Nun” is a U.S., Belgium and France co-production which features a star international cast including Brigitte Fossey (“Cinema Paradiso”), Claudia Cardinale (“Once Upon a Time in the West”) Rossy de Palma (“Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”), Raul Torres (“Wonderstruck”) and Larry Cech (“Absinthe”). According to its producers, further cast additions are forthcoming.
Set in the South of France during the Cannes Film Festival, “Second to Nun” will...
- 5/22/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
From the creators of The Ring, Starry Eyes, and Fear, Inc. comes a story about a grieving man wracked with guilt and demons. Ahead of Painkillers' limited release in select theaters on January 31st, check out the official trailer and poster after the film's synopsis. Also: Blackwood's premiere at MonsterFest and acquisition and premiere details for Harpoon.
Painkillers Trailer and Poster Revealed: "Painkillers, an all-new genre-twisting dramatic thriller starring Adam Huss (Power), Madeline Zima and Grant Bowler, with a special appearance from Mischa Barton - set for release in select theaters January 31st and on VOD February 4th, 2019.
Synopsis: After a terrible car crash in which his son dies, brilliant surgeon John Clarke, tormented by guilt, becomes prey to unbearable physical pain. While his marriage starts disintegrating, John soon finds out that the only thing that can ease his pain is the taste of human blood. When he encounters Herb Morris,...
Painkillers Trailer and Poster Revealed: "Painkillers, an all-new genre-twisting dramatic thriller starring Adam Huss (Power), Madeline Zima and Grant Bowler, with a special appearance from Mischa Barton - set for release in select theaters January 31st and on VOD February 4th, 2019.
Synopsis: After a terrible car crash in which his son dies, brilliant surgeon John Clarke, tormented by guilt, becomes prey to unbearable physical pain. While his marriage starts disintegrating, John soon finds out that the only thing that can ease his pain is the taste of human blood. When he encounters Herb Morris,...
- 1/17/2019
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
For our annual list of most anticipated foreign films, we have compiled an expanded list, tacking on an extra hundred titles to our usual 200 for a total of 300 projects we are looking forward to in the coming year. For the top 150 titles, we will begin unveiling one-by-one. However, for the second half of our selection, please have a look at many of the international offerings on the horizon which we didn’t examine in greater depth. Among them are some exciting directorial debuts from actors, what we hope to be come-backs for certain directors (such as Jorge Michel Grau with Bunker), some compelling debuts from new artists (Greta from Armando Praco and Acid from Alexander Gorchilin), plus a number of celebrated French directors to look forward to.…...
- 12/31/2018
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
In today’s Horror Highlights, we have five new character posters for a film currently showing at Cannes, Painkillers. Also: a look at a behind-the-scenes video for Venom #1, and The Night of the Virgin trailer and release details.
Painkillers Character Posters Revealed: Press Release: Press Release: "May 14th, 2018 – Title Media, Lone Suspect and Kew Media have released the first round of artwork for Painkillers, a dramatic horror thriller from director Roxy Shih. Kew is currently selling the film at Cannes.
The set of character poster features stars Adam Huss (Power), Madeline Zima, Grant Bowler, Debra Wilson, and Mischa Barton.
This marks the second feature from director Roxy Shih (The Tribe). Giles Daoust wrote the script, which received several awards and nominations in festivals and screenwriting competitions.
Luke Barnett and Vincent Masciale produced the film under their Lone Suspect banner alongside Giles Daoust for Title Media. Mike Macari (The Ring franchise...
Painkillers Character Posters Revealed: Press Release: Press Release: "May 14th, 2018 – Title Media, Lone Suspect and Kew Media have released the first round of artwork for Painkillers, a dramatic horror thriller from director Roxy Shih. Kew is currently selling the film at Cannes.
The set of character poster features stars Adam Huss (Power), Madeline Zima, Grant Bowler, Debra Wilson, and Mischa Barton.
This marks the second feature from director Roxy Shih (The Tribe). Giles Daoust wrote the script, which received several awards and nominations in festivals and screenwriting competitions.
Luke Barnett and Vincent Masciale produced the film under their Lone Suspect banner alongside Giles Daoust for Title Media. Mike Macari (The Ring franchise...
- 5/17/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Headlining today's Horror Highlights is a clip from Dave and Lou Elsey's haunting short film Keep the Gaslight Burning. Co-starring critically acclaimed makeup artist Rick Baker and Markie Post, the short film's fire will burn brightly this summer. We also have a look at the short film Let it Die and eight images from the new movie Painkillers.
Keep the Gaslight Burning Clip Revealed: "A brutal murder, a grand and gothic house, a vengeful ghost ... they're the elements that Oscar®-winning director Dave Elsey (Best Achievement in Makeup: The Wolfman) and co-director Lou Elsey combine in the brand-new short film Keep The Gaslight Burning --and they're joined by another film makeup legend, seven-time Oscar® winner Rick Baker, who plays a pivotal role, as well as acclaimed actress Markie Post (above).
Keep The Gaslight Burning will make its official public debut this summer ... but for now, we wanted to share...
Keep the Gaslight Burning Clip Revealed: "A brutal murder, a grand and gothic house, a vengeful ghost ... they're the elements that Oscar®-winning director Dave Elsey (Best Achievement in Makeup: The Wolfman) and co-director Lou Elsey combine in the brand-new short film Keep The Gaslight Burning --and they're joined by another film makeup legend, seven-time Oscar® winner Rick Baker, who plays a pivotal role, as well as acclaimed actress Markie Post (above).
Keep The Gaslight Burning will make its official public debut this summer ... but for now, we wanted to share...
- 5/2/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
No stranger to the independent circuit, Roxy Shih is a Taiwanese-American filmmaker who has screened her work at acclaimed festivals such as the La Asian Pacific Film Festival, SXSW, Toronto Independent, and Dances with Films.
“The Tribe,” her debut feature film, earned her various awards, including Best Director at Other Worlds Austin. Having just recently wrapped production on the first season of the new sci-fi anthology series “Dark / Web,” Shih has now been tapped to take on her second feature: the genre-twisting thriller “Painkillers.” The film is written by Giles Daoust, best known for his screenwriting work on genre pictures like “The Room” (no, not that “The Room” and “Artifacts”).
Read More: SXSW Exclusive: Dreams Require Sacrifice In Illustrated Poster For Horror ‘Starry Eyes’
Luke Barnett and Vincent Masciale will produce under their Lone Suspect banner, alongside Daoust and Catherine Dumonceaux on behalf of Title Media. Mike Macari and Alain Berliner are executive producing.
“The Tribe,” her debut feature film, earned her various awards, including Best Director at Other Worlds Austin. Having just recently wrapped production on the first season of the new sci-fi anthology series “Dark / Web,” Shih has now been tapped to take on her second feature: the genre-twisting thriller “Painkillers.” The film is written by Giles Daoust, best known for his screenwriting work on genre pictures like “The Room” (no, not that “The Room” and “Artifacts”).
Read More: SXSW Exclusive: Dreams Require Sacrifice In Illustrated Poster For Horror ‘Starry Eyes’
Luke Barnett and Vincent Masciale will produce under their Lone Suspect banner, alongside Daoust and Catherine Dumonceaux on behalf of Title Media. Mike Macari and Alain Berliner are executive producing.
- 4/10/2017
- by Kerry Levielle
- Indiewire
Fierce, committed and above all, tough — these are the words that collaborators use to describe producer Robin O’Hara, a longtime fixture of the New York independent film scene, who died suddenly last week after complications from cancer treatment.
When O’Hara’s business and life partner Scott Macaulay of Forensic Films posted the sad news on Facebook last Wednesday, hundreds of prominent filmmakers, former crewmembers, and friends from across the independent film world offered an outpouring of condolences, remembrances, and testimonies about O’Hara’s importance in nurturing their art and their careers.
As “Saving Face” director Alice Wu wrote, “She was brilliant and mercurial and hilarious and terrifying. She gave no fucks — unless she did give a fuck — and then she gave everything. Anyone who has been lucky enough to be in her orbit never lets go. She pushed us all … and we became better people.”
Echoing Wu,...
When O’Hara’s business and life partner Scott Macaulay of Forensic Films posted the sad news on Facebook last Wednesday, hundreds of prominent filmmakers, former crewmembers, and friends from across the independent film world offered an outpouring of condolences, remembrances, and testimonies about O’Hara’s importance in nurturing their art and their careers.
As “Saving Face” director Alice Wu wrote, “She was brilliant and mercurial and hilarious and terrifying. She gave no fucks — unless she did give a fuck — and then she gave everything. Anyone who has been lucky enough to be in her orbit never lets go. She pushed us all … and we became better people.”
Echoing Wu,...
- 3/20/2017
- by Anthony Kaufman
- Indiewire
The Franco-American Cultural Fund, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has announced the program for the 20th Colcoa French Film Festival that will run April 18-26 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. The festival will showcase a record 70 films and television series - among them 64 in competition for Colcoa Awards - including four World Premieres, seven International Premieres, 19 North American or U.S. Premieres, 17 West Coast Premieres - and 21 new shorts. Colcoa, is now the world's largest event dedicated to French films and television.
"This 20th anniversary deserves a spectacular, strong program that reflects the diversity of French production, as well as the creativity and dynamism of French filmmakers and producers," stated François Truffart, Colcoa Executive Producer and Artistic Director. "More than ever, we are about to involve audiences in a journey that will stir them, make them laugh, cry, tickle their curiosity, and help them remain optimistic, while recognizing the urgent world zeitgeist."
"20 years is an achievement for any film festival in Hollywood. This would not have been possible without the commitment of the Franco-American Cultural Fund - a unique partnership of the DGA, the Mpa, la Sacem and the WGA West - creator of the festival in 1996 and supporter of its subsequent development. We also salute French sales companies, official supporters, sponsors, and U.S. distributors, whose loyalty and trust have given the festival its continuing excellence," he added.
Colcoa will open Monday, April 18th with the North American Premiere of "Monsieur Chocolat," a biopic about the first French black clown, co-written by Cyril Gely, Olivier Gorce, Gérard Noiriel, Roschdy Zem, directed by Roschdy Zem, and starring Omar Sy and James Thiérrée. The film will be presented in association with Gaumont, which celebrates its 120th anniversary.
The festival will close its competition on Monday, April 25th with the World Premiere of "Up For Love," the new romantic comedy written and directed by Laurent Tirard, starring Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira. "Call My Agent" (Season 1), the most popular French TV series of the year, about a talent agency with actors playing their own roles, will close the Colcoa TV Competition.
Two other TV series, shown for the first time in North America, will be part of the program, presented in association with TV France International and Titrafilm: "The Disappearance," a drama co-written by Marie Deshaires and Catherine Touzet and directed by Charlotte Brändström; and "The Secret of Elise," a supernatural drama written by lsa Marpeau, Marie Vinoy, Marie Deshaires, and Catherine Touzet and directed by Alexandre Laurent, Samir Boitard, Mathieu Simonet, and Mehdi Meskar. The first two episodes of each series will be shown to the Colcoa audience.
To complete the competition, five TV movies will premiere at Colcoa: the North American Premiere of "Borderline," a thriller co-written and directed by Olivier Marchal, the International Premiere of "Carpets and Chaos," a comedy co-written and directed by Nader Takmil Homayoun, the International Premiere of "Stolen Babies," a drama written by Julie Jézéquel and directed by Golden Globe winner Alain Berliner; the International Premiere of "The Wall-Crosser," a fantasy written and directed by Dante Desarthes, based on Marcel Aymé's book; and the North American Premiere of "Woman Under the Influence," a drama written and directed by Claude-Michel Rome.
The feature film selection (40 features and documentaries and 21 shorts), will feature exclusive presentations. "Fanny's Journey," an epic drama written and directed by Lola Doillon, starring Cecile de France, is also a World Premiere. The U.S. Premiere of the thriller "Made in France," written and directed by Nicolas Boukhrief, is a film which did not have theatrical release in France because of sensitivity following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. Colcoa also will present the U.S. Premiere of Robert Guédiguian's provocative film about the Armenian genocide, "Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mad." The U.S. Premiere of Oscar ® winner Claude Lelouch's new film "Un plus Une," starring Jean Dujardin and Elsa Zylberstein, will screen, in addition to another U.S. Premiere of "All Gone South," the comedy sequel co-written and co-directed by Nicolas Benamou and Philippe Lacheau, two years after the success of Babysitting at Colcoa in 2014.
Several established writers/directors return and other known artists have been selected: Academy Award nominee Christian Carion ("Come What May"- with Cohen Media Group), Anne Fontaine ("The Innocents" - with Music Box Films), Vincent Garencq ("Kalinka"), Academy Award nominee Jean-Paul Rappeneau ("Families"), Christian Vincent ("Courted"), Maïwenn ("My King" - with Film Movement)
Every year, the Colcoa program is dedicated to a new generation of talent, many of whose films are included in Colcoa's French NeWave 2.0 Series: Samuel Collardey ("Land Legs"), Clément Cogitor ("Neither Heaven Nor Earth" - with Film Movement), Philippe Faucon - the writer/director of the 2016 César Best film winner ("Fatima" - with Kino Lorber), Emmanuel Finkiel ("A Decent Man"), Eva Husson ("Bang Gang" - with Samuel Goldwyn), Laurent Larivière ("I am a Soldier"), and Orelsan and Christophe Offenstein ("Uncompleted Song").
The After 10 Series at Colcoa invites audiences to explore new frontiers with an exclusive program, including the French-Belgian co-production from writer/director Bouli Lanners ("The First, the Last"), the new dark comedy from Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern, starring Gérard Depardieu ("Saint Amour"), and Frédéric Schoendoerffer ("Past Convoy").
Two anticipated films about women in Muslim countries will be part of theWord Cinema Produced by France Series: the Franco-Moroccan co-production, "Much Loved," written and directed by Nabil Ayouch, premiered at the Director's Fortnight in 2015, and remains banned in Morocco; and, "As I Open My Eyes," a Franco-Tunisian film from female writer/director Leyla Bouzid (with Kino Lorber). The Argentine film, "Eva Doesn't Sleep," written and directed by Pablo Agüero will complete the series.
Two documentaries focusing on significant environmental issues will premiere at Colcoa: the closing film of the last Cannes Film Festival, "Ice and the Sky" (with Music Box Films) from Academy Award winner Luc Jacquet (March of the Penguins), and a special presentation following the United Nations screening of the 2016 Cesar winner for Best Documentary, "Tomorrow," written and directed by Cédric Dion and Mélanie Laurent. "The Frankenstein Complex," a tribute to the creators of big screen creatures, written and directed by Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet, will complete this high profile documentary series.
All other Colcoa series are back in 2016: the Colcoa Classics Series with an exclusive program of digitally restored premieres (see February 19th press release); the Happy Hour Talks PanelSeriesin association withVariety (April 19-25); the Short Film Competition (Sunday, April 24 - March press release); the Focus on a Filmmaker, this year with writer/director Jean-Paul Rappeneau (Thursday, April 21); and the Focus on a Producer will be with Dominique Besnehard (Saturday, April 23).
Animation, an important part of the French film industry, will be shown at Colcoa with the premiere of Rémi Chayé's new film: "Long Way North" (with Shout Factory).
As is Colcoa tradition, comedieswill join the program almost every day, including the romantic comedy "Love at First Child," co-written and directed by Anne Giaffieri, starring Patrick Bruel and Isabelle Carré, Benoît's Graffin's "Hopefully," with Sandrine Kiberlain and Edouard Baer, Jean-Francois Richet's "One Wild Moment," starring Francois Cluzet and Vincent Cassel, and the new French hit "One Man and His Cow," written and directed by Mohamed Hamidi.
This last film will also be shown to the 3,000 students and teachers who will attend the now five High School Screenings (April 19-25) as part of the Colcoa Educational Program presented in association with Elma (European Languages and Movies in America). Two master classes for college and university students will complete the program.
For the ninth year, Lafca will partner with Colcoa Cinema for the Critics' Awards. The complete recipients list of the 2015 Awards - including the U.S. distributor winner of the Colcoa Coming Soon Award, presented in association with Kpcc, will be announced on Wednesday, April 27. Colcoa Awards are presented in association with Titrafilm, TV5 Monde USA, and Air Tahiti Nui.
"This 20th anniversary deserves a spectacular, strong program that reflects the diversity of French production, as well as the creativity and dynamism of French filmmakers and producers," stated François Truffart, Colcoa Executive Producer and Artistic Director. "More than ever, we are about to involve audiences in a journey that will stir them, make them laugh, cry, tickle their curiosity, and help them remain optimistic, while recognizing the urgent world zeitgeist."
"20 years is an achievement for any film festival in Hollywood. This would not have been possible without the commitment of the Franco-American Cultural Fund - a unique partnership of the DGA, the Mpa, la Sacem and the WGA West - creator of the festival in 1996 and supporter of its subsequent development. We also salute French sales companies, official supporters, sponsors, and U.S. distributors, whose loyalty and trust have given the festival its continuing excellence," he added.
Colcoa will open Monday, April 18th with the North American Premiere of "Monsieur Chocolat," a biopic about the first French black clown, co-written by Cyril Gely, Olivier Gorce, Gérard Noiriel, Roschdy Zem, directed by Roschdy Zem, and starring Omar Sy and James Thiérrée. The film will be presented in association with Gaumont, which celebrates its 120th anniversary.
The festival will close its competition on Monday, April 25th with the World Premiere of "Up For Love," the new romantic comedy written and directed by Laurent Tirard, starring Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira. "Call My Agent" (Season 1), the most popular French TV series of the year, about a talent agency with actors playing their own roles, will close the Colcoa TV Competition.
Two other TV series, shown for the first time in North America, will be part of the program, presented in association with TV France International and Titrafilm: "The Disappearance," a drama co-written by Marie Deshaires and Catherine Touzet and directed by Charlotte Brändström; and "The Secret of Elise," a supernatural drama written by lsa Marpeau, Marie Vinoy, Marie Deshaires, and Catherine Touzet and directed by Alexandre Laurent, Samir Boitard, Mathieu Simonet, and Mehdi Meskar. The first two episodes of each series will be shown to the Colcoa audience.
To complete the competition, five TV movies will premiere at Colcoa: the North American Premiere of "Borderline," a thriller co-written and directed by Olivier Marchal, the International Premiere of "Carpets and Chaos," a comedy co-written and directed by Nader Takmil Homayoun, the International Premiere of "Stolen Babies," a drama written by Julie Jézéquel and directed by Golden Globe winner Alain Berliner; the International Premiere of "The Wall-Crosser," a fantasy written and directed by Dante Desarthes, based on Marcel Aymé's book; and the North American Premiere of "Woman Under the Influence," a drama written and directed by Claude-Michel Rome.
The feature film selection (40 features and documentaries and 21 shorts), will feature exclusive presentations. "Fanny's Journey," an epic drama written and directed by Lola Doillon, starring Cecile de France, is also a World Premiere. The U.S. Premiere of the thriller "Made in France," written and directed by Nicolas Boukhrief, is a film which did not have theatrical release in France because of sensitivity following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. Colcoa also will present the U.S. Premiere of Robert Guédiguian's provocative film about the Armenian genocide, "Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mad." The U.S. Premiere of Oscar ® winner Claude Lelouch's new film "Un plus Une," starring Jean Dujardin and Elsa Zylberstein, will screen, in addition to another U.S. Premiere of "All Gone South," the comedy sequel co-written and co-directed by Nicolas Benamou and Philippe Lacheau, two years after the success of Babysitting at Colcoa in 2014.
Several established writers/directors return and other known artists have been selected: Academy Award nominee Christian Carion ("Come What May"- with Cohen Media Group), Anne Fontaine ("The Innocents" - with Music Box Films), Vincent Garencq ("Kalinka"), Academy Award nominee Jean-Paul Rappeneau ("Families"), Christian Vincent ("Courted"), Maïwenn ("My King" - with Film Movement)
Every year, the Colcoa program is dedicated to a new generation of talent, many of whose films are included in Colcoa's French NeWave 2.0 Series: Samuel Collardey ("Land Legs"), Clément Cogitor ("Neither Heaven Nor Earth" - with Film Movement), Philippe Faucon - the writer/director of the 2016 César Best film winner ("Fatima" - with Kino Lorber), Emmanuel Finkiel ("A Decent Man"), Eva Husson ("Bang Gang" - with Samuel Goldwyn), Laurent Larivière ("I am a Soldier"), and Orelsan and Christophe Offenstein ("Uncompleted Song").
The After 10 Series at Colcoa invites audiences to explore new frontiers with an exclusive program, including the French-Belgian co-production from writer/director Bouli Lanners ("The First, the Last"), the new dark comedy from Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern, starring Gérard Depardieu ("Saint Amour"), and Frédéric Schoendoerffer ("Past Convoy").
Two anticipated films about women in Muslim countries will be part of theWord Cinema Produced by France Series: the Franco-Moroccan co-production, "Much Loved," written and directed by Nabil Ayouch, premiered at the Director's Fortnight in 2015, and remains banned in Morocco; and, "As I Open My Eyes," a Franco-Tunisian film from female writer/director Leyla Bouzid (with Kino Lorber). The Argentine film, "Eva Doesn't Sleep," written and directed by Pablo Agüero will complete the series.
Two documentaries focusing on significant environmental issues will premiere at Colcoa: the closing film of the last Cannes Film Festival, "Ice and the Sky" (with Music Box Films) from Academy Award winner Luc Jacquet (March of the Penguins), and a special presentation following the United Nations screening of the 2016 Cesar winner for Best Documentary, "Tomorrow," written and directed by Cédric Dion and Mélanie Laurent. "The Frankenstein Complex," a tribute to the creators of big screen creatures, written and directed by Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet, will complete this high profile documentary series.
All other Colcoa series are back in 2016: the Colcoa Classics Series with an exclusive program of digitally restored premieres (see February 19th press release); the Happy Hour Talks PanelSeriesin association withVariety (April 19-25); the Short Film Competition (Sunday, April 24 - March press release); the Focus on a Filmmaker, this year with writer/director Jean-Paul Rappeneau (Thursday, April 21); and the Focus on a Producer will be with Dominique Besnehard (Saturday, April 23).
Animation, an important part of the French film industry, will be shown at Colcoa with the premiere of Rémi Chayé's new film: "Long Way North" (with Shout Factory).
As is Colcoa tradition, comedieswill join the program almost every day, including the romantic comedy "Love at First Child," co-written and directed by Anne Giaffieri, starring Patrick Bruel and Isabelle Carré, Benoît's Graffin's "Hopefully," with Sandrine Kiberlain and Edouard Baer, Jean-Francois Richet's "One Wild Moment," starring Francois Cluzet and Vincent Cassel, and the new French hit "One Man and His Cow," written and directed by Mohamed Hamidi.
This last film will also be shown to the 3,000 students and teachers who will attend the now five High School Screenings (April 19-25) as part of the Colcoa Educational Program presented in association with Elma (European Languages and Movies in America). Two master classes for college and university students will complete the program.
For the ninth year, Lafca will partner with Colcoa Cinema for the Critics' Awards. The complete recipients list of the 2015 Awards - including the U.S. distributor winner of the Colcoa Coming Soon Award, presented in association with Kpcc, will be announced on Wednesday, April 27. Colcoa Awards are presented in association with Titrafilm, TV5 Monde USA, and Air Tahiti Nui.
- 4/14/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Anton Bormatov’s social drama Kicking In taken out of competition over “human rights” issues.
Russian football hooligan film Kicking In (Okolofutbola) was excluded from consideration by the jury of the the Saint-Petersburg International Film Festival (Spiff), it has emerged.
The second edition of the festival ended last night [Sept 22] with the declaration from jury president Sergei Bodrov.
The international jury refused to consider Anton Bormatov’s social drama based on real events in the world of football hooligans because of the authors’ position which was “not in line with modern European humanistic values and human rights”.
The festival had organised a sidebar - “Section 22 frames” - dedicated to films about football and one commentator asked why Bormatov’s film hadn’t been shown here. The film was produced by the Saint-Petersburg-based producer Sergei Selyanov of Ctb, who was in Moscow at the same time for the film’s premiere in the October cinema.
Kicking In will...
Russian football hooligan film Kicking In (Okolofutbola) was excluded from consideration by the jury of the the Saint-Petersburg International Film Festival (Spiff), it has emerged.
The second edition of the festival ended last night [Sept 22] with the declaration from jury president Sergei Bodrov.
The international jury refused to consider Anton Bormatov’s social drama based on real events in the world of football hooligans because of the authors’ position which was “not in line with modern European humanistic values and human rights”.
The festival had organised a sidebar - “Section 22 frames” - dedicated to films about football and one commentator asked why Bormatov’s film hadn’t been shown here. The film was produced by the Saint-Petersburg-based producer Sergei Selyanov of Ctb, who was in Moscow at the same time for the film’s premiere in the October cinema.
Kicking In will...
- 9/23/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Anton Bormatov’s social drama Kicking In taken out of competition over “human rights” issues.
Russian football hooligan film Kicking In (Okolofutbola) was excluded from consideration by the jury of the the Saint-Petersburg International Film Festival (Spiff), it has emerged.
The second edition of the festival ended last night [Sept 22] with the declaration from jury president Sergei Bodrov.
The international jury refused to consider Anton Bormatov’s social drama based on real events in the world of football hooligans because of the authors’ position which was “not in line with modern European humanistic values and human rights”.
The festival had organised a sidebar - “Section 22 frames” - dedicated to films about football and one commentator asked why Bormatov’s film hadn’t been shown here. The film was produced by the Saint-Petersburg-based producer Sergei Selyanov of Ctb, who was in Moscow at the same time for the film’s premiere in the October cinema.
Kicking In will...
Russian football hooligan film Kicking In (Okolofutbola) was excluded from consideration by the jury of the the Saint-Petersburg International Film Festival (Spiff), it has emerged.
The second edition of the festival ended last night [Sept 22] with the declaration from jury president Sergei Bodrov.
The international jury refused to consider Anton Bormatov’s social drama based on real events in the world of football hooligans because of the authors’ position which was “not in line with modern European humanistic values and human rights”.
The festival had organised a sidebar - “Section 22 frames” - dedicated to films about football and one commentator asked why Bormatov’s film hadn’t been shown here. The film was produced by the Saint-Petersburg-based producer Sergei Selyanov of Ctb, who was in Moscow at the same time for the film’s premiere in the October cinema.
Kicking In will...
- 9/23/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has set the program for its 47th edition, including an official competition featuring eight world premieres and four international premieres. Those films will compete for the festival's Crystal Globe, which has previously gone to Frédéric Dumont's "Angel at Sea," Henrik Ruben Genz's "Terribly Happy," Laurie Collyer's "Sherrybaby" and Alain Berliner's "Ma Vie En Rose," among others. The film festival runs June 29-July 7, 2012. A complete rundown of the program -- including descriptions and commentary care of the festival -- is below. Official Selection - Competition Eight world premieres and four international premieres will be competing in the main competition of the 47th Kviff, which will also be profiling four talented debut directors One of the films competing for the Crystal Globe for Best Film will be Piazza Fontana: The Italian...
- 6/5/2012
- by Peter Knegt
- Indiewire
NEW YORK -- A whimsical Belgian comedy about a 7-year-old cross-dresser would hardly seem a candidate for breakout potential, but that's what Sony Pictures Classics is banking on with its acquisition of Alain Berliner's film, shown in the Director's Fortnight at Cannes and now being showcased at the New York Film Festival. The funny thing is, they may be right.
"Ma Vie en Rose" tells the story of Ludovic, a gentle, wide-eyed young boy who wants nothing more in life than to wear high heels, a skirt, and makeup. Believing himself to be a "girlboy," he has no compunction about indulging his desires; his parents, naturally, are horrified, particularly when he makes a dramatic appearance in front of their friends and neighbors.
They try to laugh it off as a child's joke, but Ludovic's persistence in his tendencies finally forces them to take action. Pierre, Ludovic's outraged father, tries severe discipline, to no avail; a family visit to a friendly therapist is equally unsuccessful. Ludovic, for his part, tries to correct himself, especially when a friend moves his desk away from him at school, claiming that unless he doesn't he's "going to hell." For a while, Ludovic walks around playing cowboy and grabbing his crotch, but it doesn't work; he even resorts to locking a young female classmate in the bathroom so he can take over her role in the school production of "Snow White". As the parents' frustration grows, the young boy's increasingly public problem becomes indirectly responsible for the father's loss of his job.
The story is told using a variety of theatrical techniques, including a landscape of visually audacious, bright colors and a series of sequences depicting Ludovic's fantasy figure, a sort of combination of Tinker Bell and Barbie. Although some of these segments are more successful than others (particularly amusing is the depiction of Ludovic's explanation for how he came to be this way, involving God's misplacement of a chromosome), the film manages to blend witty, fantastical humor and social realism in an adroit and skillful manner. The assured screenplay and direction takes a subject that would have been ridiculous or offensive in lesser hands and actually makes it work, even if the ending is a little too optimistic for the film's own good.
The performances, too, are highly impressive. As Ludovic's frustrated parents, Michele Laroque and Jean-Philippe Ecoffey beautifully convey both their characters' angry chagrin and their deep love for their son. And the beautifully cast newcomer Georges Du Fresne is a marvel as Ludovic, giving a performance that will make you laugh even as it breaks your heart.
MA VIE EN ROSE
Sony Pictures Classics
Director Alain Berliner
Screenplay Chris Vander Stappen,
Alain Berliner
Producer Carole Scotta
Director of photography Yves Cape
Editor Sandrine Deegen
Music Dominique Dalcan
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludovic Georges du Fresne
Hanna Michele Laroque
Pierre Jean-Philippe Ecoffey
Elisabeth Helene Vincent
Jerome Julien Riviere
Running time - 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
"Ma Vie en Rose" tells the story of Ludovic, a gentle, wide-eyed young boy who wants nothing more in life than to wear high heels, a skirt, and makeup. Believing himself to be a "girlboy," he has no compunction about indulging his desires; his parents, naturally, are horrified, particularly when he makes a dramatic appearance in front of their friends and neighbors.
They try to laugh it off as a child's joke, but Ludovic's persistence in his tendencies finally forces them to take action. Pierre, Ludovic's outraged father, tries severe discipline, to no avail; a family visit to a friendly therapist is equally unsuccessful. Ludovic, for his part, tries to correct himself, especially when a friend moves his desk away from him at school, claiming that unless he doesn't he's "going to hell." For a while, Ludovic walks around playing cowboy and grabbing his crotch, but it doesn't work; he even resorts to locking a young female classmate in the bathroom so he can take over her role in the school production of "Snow White". As the parents' frustration grows, the young boy's increasingly public problem becomes indirectly responsible for the father's loss of his job.
The story is told using a variety of theatrical techniques, including a landscape of visually audacious, bright colors and a series of sequences depicting Ludovic's fantasy figure, a sort of combination of Tinker Bell and Barbie. Although some of these segments are more successful than others (particularly amusing is the depiction of Ludovic's explanation for how he came to be this way, involving God's misplacement of a chromosome), the film manages to blend witty, fantastical humor and social realism in an adroit and skillful manner. The assured screenplay and direction takes a subject that would have been ridiculous or offensive in lesser hands and actually makes it work, even if the ending is a little too optimistic for the film's own good.
The performances, too, are highly impressive. As Ludovic's frustrated parents, Michele Laroque and Jean-Philippe Ecoffey beautifully convey both their characters' angry chagrin and their deep love for their son. And the beautifully cast newcomer Georges Du Fresne is a marvel as Ludovic, giving a performance that will make you laugh even as it breaks your heart.
MA VIE EN ROSE
Sony Pictures Classics
Director Alain Berliner
Screenplay Chris Vander Stappen,
Alain Berliner
Producer Carole Scotta
Director of photography Yves Cape
Editor Sandrine Deegen
Music Dominique Dalcan
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludovic Georges du Fresne
Hanna Michele Laroque
Pierre Jean-Philippe Ecoffey
Elisabeth Helene Vincent
Jerome Julien Riviere
Running time - 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 10/3/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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