Today's pick for the Sydney Film Festival Trailer of the Day is the delightful Africa United. Here's what the Sff Program says about the film: Three Rwandan kids hit the road to soccer's World Cup in this energetic and enjoyable feature. Dudu is convinced that his best friend, Fabrice, is going to be a football legend. When a FIFA representative offers Fabrice the chance to audition for the opening celebrations of the 2010 Cup, Dudu, his self-appointed manager, convinces him to make the trip to Rwanda's capital. Accompanied by Dudu's little sister, the penniless trio hop on a coach but somehow manage to end up in the wrong country, having missed the audition. Before long the smooth-talking, geographically-challenged Dudu convinces them to make the...
- 6/13/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Despite the fact that Helena Bonham Carter is currently in England filming Tim Burton's reimagining of the '60s TV series "Dark Shadows," she's sending her best to America. And she isn't alone. As the digital distributor Emerging Pictures did last fall for a selection of Australian hits that wouldn't have made it to U.S. theaters otherwise, the company is teaming up with the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the UK Film Council to bring a group of six acclaimed British films Stateside, kicking off with "Toast," a '60s set coming-of-age story based on food writer Nigel Slater's memoir with Freddie Highmore as his teen surrogate who must compete for the attention of his gruff father against a cleaning woman (Bonham Carter) whose heavenly lemon meringue pie masks the tartness she demonstrates upon becoming the boy's stepmother.
However, that's nearly the only thing about the...
However, that's nearly the only thing about the...
- 6/11/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
The best of British indie cinema is landing June 11: "From Britain With Love." Six new films, curated by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and presented by the UK Film Council, will screen: Toast, In Our Name, Third Star (all Us premieres) as well as A Boy Called Dad, Africa United and NEDs. The series kicks off in New York City but 30 additional venues for the screenings are listed here. Toast (pictured), starring Helena Bonham Carter, opens the showcase with a live broadcast from Lincoln Center on June 11, including a Q & A with director S.J. Clarkson.
- 6/9/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Living proof that fat-suits aren’t always funny, the first two Big Momma’s House movies did their very best to scream this fact from every roof-top within the film-maker’s reach. It appears, however, that despite such valiant attempts, the general cinema-going public have forked over enough money to justify a third outing for Martin Lawrences own personal standing pillory.
Twentieth Century Fox have sent us the new poster and Quad for Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, which see’s Lawrence go undercover for a third time in order to solve a murder at a performing arts school – this time bringing his son (Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif’s Brandon T. Jackson) along for good measure.
The one-sheet and quad differ in only one respect: the positioning of ‘Big Momma’s’ gun. Neither prove particularly remarkable though, opting for the kiss-of-death white background most recently seen on posters for Africa United.
Twentieth Century Fox have sent us the new poster and Quad for Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, which see’s Lawrence go undercover for a third time in order to solve a murder at a performing arts school – this time bringing his son (Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif’s Brandon T. Jackson) along for good measure.
The one-sheet and quad differ in only one respect: the positioning of ‘Big Momma’s’ gun. Neither prove particularly remarkable though, opting for the kiss-of-death white background most recently seen on posters for Africa United.
- 1/19/2011
- by Steven Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Continuing on with my coverage of the New York African Diaspora Film Festival, which began last week, on November 26th, and will run through December 14th…
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, Soul Boy, Here, Goodbye Momo, Here, Venus Noire, Here, and the horror film Evil Angel, which stars Ving Rhames, Here.
Today, it’s a Panamanian comedy titled Chance, which tells the story of Toña and Paquita, the long-mistreated maids for the aristocratic González-Dubois family, who have grown tired their situation, and decide to turn the tables on their employer.
Directed by Abner Benaim, and starring Rosa Isabel Lorenzo and Aida Morales as Toña and Paquita, the maids, the film has screened in Panama, Colombia, Spain and Cuba. This, however, will be its New York premiere.
It screens this Sunday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 pm at Anthology Film Archives in lower Manhattan,...
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, Soul Boy, Here, Goodbye Momo, Here, Venus Noire, Here, and the horror film Evil Angel, which stars Ving Rhames, Here.
Today, it’s a Panamanian comedy titled Chance, which tells the story of Toña and Paquita, the long-mistreated maids for the aristocratic González-Dubois family, who have grown tired their situation, and decide to turn the tables on their employer.
Directed by Abner Benaim, and starring Rosa Isabel Lorenzo and Aida Morales as Toña and Paquita, the maids, the film has screened in Panama, Colombia, Spain and Cuba. This, however, will be its New York premiere.
It screens this Sunday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 pm at Anthology Film Archives in lower Manhattan,...
- 12/2/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Continuing on with my coverage of the New York African Diaspora Film Festival, which began last week, on November 26th, and will run through December 14th…
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, Soul Boy, Here, Goodbye Momo, Here, and Venus Noire, Here.
Today, it’s a horror film title that’s new to me titled Evil Angel – a contemporary take on the ancient myth of Lilith, which stars Ving Rhames in a role we rarely see him in, as John Carruthers, described as a tough and resourceful detective, in hot pursuit of a sexy and seductive villainess/murderer.
Evil Angel screens tomorrow, December 2nd, and Saturday, December 4th (both at 8:30Pm) at the Anthology Film Archives theater.
Watch the film’s trailer below, then Click Here to purchase a ticket to see it on any of the...
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, Soul Boy, Here, Goodbye Momo, Here, and Venus Noire, Here.
Today, it’s a horror film title that’s new to me titled Evil Angel – a contemporary take on the ancient myth of Lilith, which stars Ving Rhames in a role we rarely see him in, as John Carruthers, described as a tough and resourceful detective, in hot pursuit of a sexy and seductive villainess/murderer.
Evil Angel screens tomorrow, December 2nd, and Saturday, December 4th (both at 8:30Pm) at the Anthology Film Archives theater.
Watch the film’s trailer below, then Click Here to purchase a ticket to see it on any of the...
- 12/1/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Continuing on with my coverage of the New York African Diaspora Film Festival, which began last week, on November 26th, and will run through December 14th…
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, Soul Boy, Here, and Goodbye Momo, Here.
Today, it’s the distressing, discomforting Black Venus, aka Venus Noire, directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, and starring Yamina Torres. It’s a film we’ve talked about a bit on this blog, centered on the troubling historical tale of the so-called Hottentot Venus. I saw the film at the New York a couple of months ago, and reviewed it Here. It’s certainly a title that I believe will inspire impassioned dialogue when seen, and I encourage you to give it a look New Yorkers, Tonight!
Short notice, I know, but better late than never. I’ve been on...
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, Soul Boy, Here, and Goodbye Momo, Here.
Today, it’s the distressing, discomforting Black Venus, aka Venus Noire, directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, and starring Yamina Torres. It’s a film we’ve talked about a bit on this blog, centered on the troubling historical tale of the so-called Hottentot Venus. I saw the film at the New York a couple of months ago, and reviewed it Here. It’s certainly a title that I believe will inspire impassioned dialogue when seen, and I encourage you to give it a look New Yorkers, Tonight!
Short notice, I know, but better late than never. I’ve been on...
- 11/29/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Continuing on with my planned 2 1/2 week pre-coverage of the New York African Diaspora Film Festival, which begins on November 26th, and will run for about 2 1/2 weeks, through December 14th…
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, and Soul Boy, Here.
Today, it’s the uplifting and heartening Uruguayan film called Goodbye Momo, directed by Leonardo Ricagni.
Its story goes… Obdulio, a cheerful eleven-year-old Afro-Uruguayan boy lives with his devoted grandmother and two sisters. He is the self-proclaimed “man of the house” and sells newspapers on the street to make money to live and to buy needed school uniforms for his sisters. Obduilo can’t read or write and has no interest in attending school as his grandmother encourages him to do. One night he meets the charismatic night watch man at the newspaper’s office who introduces him to...
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, London River, Here, and Soul Boy, Here.
Today, it’s the uplifting and heartening Uruguayan film called Goodbye Momo, directed by Leonardo Ricagni.
Its story goes… Obdulio, a cheerful eleven-year-old Afro-Uruguayan boy lives with his devoted grandmother and two sisters. He is the self-proclaimed “man of the house” and sells newspapers on the street to make money to live and to buy needed school uniforms for his sisters. Obduilo can’t read or write and has no interest in attending school as his grandmother encourages him to do. One night he meets the charismatic night watch man at the newspaper’s office who introduces him to...
- 11/17/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Continuing on with my planned 2 1/2 week pre-coverage of the New York African Diaspora Film Festival, which begins on November 26th, and will run for about 2 1/2 weeks, through December 14th…
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, and London River, Here.
Today, it’s a film called Soul Boy, another film that has been previously mentioned on this blog.
Its story goes… In September 2008, the German production company One Fine Day Films teamed up with Kenyan producing partners Ginger Ink to develop a film workshop in Nairobi for aspiring local movie makers. The concept of the project was to take a minimal budget, a small professional crew and a large group of young trainees to create a feature film inside Kibera, Nairobi’s biggest slum.
The main aim was to integrate upcoming talents of all filmmaking categories from Nairobi in the practical work...
Thus far, I’ve profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here, and London River, Here.
Today, it’s a film called Soul Boy, another film that has been previously mentioned on this blog.
Its story goes… In September 2008, the German production company One Fine Day Films teamed up with Kenyan producing partners Ginger Ink to develop a film workshop in Nairobi for aspiring local movie makers. The concept of the project was to take a minimal budget, a small professional crew and a large group of young trainees to create a feature film inside Kibera, Nairobi’s biggest slum.
The main aim was to integrate upcoming talents of all filmmaking categories from Nairobi in the practical work...
- 11/14/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Continuing on with my planned 2 1/2 week pre-coverage of the New York African Diaspora Film Festival, which begins on November 26th, and will run for about 2 1/2 weeks, through December 14th…
I said I’d profile at least 1 film screening at the upcoming festival, daily, until the festival actually begins. A couple of days ago, I profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here.
Today, it’s a film called London River, which has been previously mentioned on this blog.
Algerian filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb’s drama which, thus far, has been well-received by critics and audiences alike, since its debut at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, in February.
The film tells the story of Brit Elisabeth (Brenda Blethyn) and Malian Ousmane (Sotigui Kouyaté) – two parents from drastically different backgrounds, searching for their children in the wake of the July 7, 2005 terrorist attacks in London.
Kouyaté won a...
I said I’d profile at least 1 film screening at the upcoming festival, daily, until the festival actually begins. A couple of days ago, I profiled the festival opener, Africa United, which you can read Here.
Today, it’s a film called London River, which has been previously mentioned on this blog.
Algerian filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb’s drama which, thus far, has been well-received by critics and audiences alike, since its debut at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, in February.
The film tells the story of Brit Elisabeth (Brenda Blethyn) and Malian Ousmane (Sotigui Kouyaté) – two parents from drastically different backgrounds, searching for their children in the wake of the July 7, 2005 terrorist attacks in London.
Kouyaté won a...
- 11/11/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
UK audiences lap up 3D horror, while Simon Pegg's Burke and Hare makes an unpromising debut in sixth place
The winner
Anyone who still needs persuading regarding the potential of 3D to re-energise flagging film brands need look no further than the current success of Lionsgate's Saw 3D. Having peaked in 2006 with Saw III, which opened with £2.52m, debuts for the Halloween staple dipped slightly for the fourth and fifth instalments, before diving to £1.74m with Saw VI. Now episode seven arrives with an opening salvo of £3.6m, including £659,000 in previews. Even with the Thursday takings stripped out, that's comfortably the biggest-ever opening for a Saw movie. Rival studio Paramount will be hoping for a similar uplift when it releases Jackass 3D on Friday.
The loser
Considering it distributed the first two entries in the Saw franchise, it must have been moderately galling for the UK's independently owned Entertainment...
The winner
Anyone who still needs persuading regarding the potential of 3D to re-energise flagging film brands need look no further than the current success of Lionsgate's Saw 3D. Having peaked in 2006 with Saw III, which opened with £2.52m, debuts for the Halloween staple dipped slightly for the fourth and fifth instalments, before diving to £1.74m with Saw VI. Now episode seven arrives with an opening salvo of £3.6m, including £659,000 in previews. Even with the Thursday takings stripped out, that's comfortably the biggest-ever opening for a Saw movie. Rival studio Paramount will be hoping for a similar uplift when it releases Jackass 3D on Friday.
The loser
Considering it distributed the first two entries in the Saw franchise, it must have been moderately galling for the UK's independently owned Entertainment...
- 11/2/2010
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
Earlier this year, the Brits suffered a major setback when the UK Film Council slashed funding, and looking at some of the nominated films below we certainly wish the situation would "fix itself" as there is major quality content in the titles British Independent Film Award nominations this year that might not have been made if not for that support. We have The King’s Speech with a well-deserved total of eight (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and two Best Supporting Actor nominations) but then you have small treasures that seriously made the grade: both the SXSW showcased Monsters, Tribeca preemed The Arbor received six nominations, while the Sundance displayed Four Lions grabs a total of five. For a list by list category including the stellar Documentary category is listed below. Worth Noting: Despite it playing a little bit everywhere including Tribeca earlier in the year (here's...
- 11/1/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
You guys. I'm so not (quite) ready for this. It's only November 1st and in English language cinema we've already had at least three awards lineups outside of the film festivals: NY's Gotham Awards, Australia's AFI, and now Bifa... which translates to the British Independent Film Awards.
Bifa considers Oscar-buzzing Lesley Manville as "Supporting"
It will surprise virtually no one that the Oscar hopeful Brit films like The King's Speech (and all of its actors), Made in Dagenham and Another Year are in play for various prizes. It may surprise some that the indifferently received Never Let Me Go, the divisive Kick-Ass, and the largely undiscussed Brighton Rock received multiple nominations as well.
A complete list of nominees (with Oscar-adjacent comments) follows after the jump but I shan't clog the main page with these über long lists that each awards groups hands out.
Best British Independent Film
Four Lions Kick-Ass...
Bifa considers Oscar-buzzing Lesley Manville as "Supporting"
It will surprise virtually no one that the Oscar hopeful Brit films like The King's Speech (and all of its actors), Made in Dagenham and Another Year are in play for various prizes. It may surprise some that the indifferently received Never Let Me Go, the divisive Kick-Ass, and the largely undiscussed Brighton Rock received multiple nominations as well.
A complete list of nominees (with Oscar-adjacent comments) follows after the jump but I shan't clog the main page with these über long lists that each awards groups hands out.
Best British Independent Film
Four Lions Kick-Ass...
- 11/1/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Welcome to the first Close up, the weekly email from Guardian Film, covering the week's big cinema news, blogs and all the new releases
It is, officially, Autumn. You can tell not because of the leaves falling from the tress, nor the advent of Halloween (nor, even, the slightly opportunistic Clip Joint on fancy dress), but from the fact that the previous season, Film Season, is now over.
From mid-September to mid-October, we went a bit movie bananas. There was the Film & Music Power 100, the DVD giveaways and downloads, Commission Us, the Twitpitch challenge, the "name the films" challenge, the week liveblogging films from the TV. The whole thing ended with guides to the best films in seven genres. I've been really enjoying looking through the comments and reaction, especially the polls we ran for each supplement asking you to rank our choices; so interesting to see where the critics are in-step with general opinion,...
It is, officially, Autumn. You can tell not because of the leaves falling from the tress, nor the advent of Halloween (nor, even, the slightly opportunistic Clip Joint on fancy dress), but from the fact that the previous season, Film Season, is now over.
From mid-September to mid-October, we went a bit movie bananas. There was the Film & Music Power 100, the DVD giveaways and downloads, Commission Us, the Twitpitch challenge, the "name the films" challenge, the week liveblogging films from the TV. The whole thing ended with guides to the best films in seven genres. I've been really enjoying looking through the comments and reaction, especially the polls we ran for each supplement asking you to rank our choices; so interesting to see where the critics are in-step with general opinion,...
- 10/29/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
To celebrate the release of Africa United, in cinemas Now, Lonely Planet has teamed up with Pathé Distribution to give 10 lucky winners a chance to win a Lonely Planet Guide to Africa.
Africa United tells the extraordinary story of three Rwandan children and their bid to achieve their ultimate dream – to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg.
On the way to the vital selection trial, disaster strikes when Fabrice, Dudu and Beatrice board the wrong bus and cross into the Congo. Without papers, money or a believable story, they are escorted to a children’s refugee camp. But with considerable ingenuity and sass (and a World Cup wall chart for a map), our pint-sized heroes escape the camp and set off in pursuit of their dream, picking up along the way a “dream team” of displaced kids, who help them negotiate a series of thrilling and hilarious adventures.
Africa United tells the extraordinary story of three Rwandan children and their bid to achieve their ultimate dream – to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg.
On the way to the vital selection trial, disaster strikes when Fabrice, Dudu and Beatrice board the wrong bus and cross into the Congo. Without papers, money or a believable story, they are escorted to a children’s refugee camp. But with considerable ingenuity and sass (and a World Cup wall chart for a map), our pint-sized heroes escape the camp and set off in pursuit of their dream, picking up along the way a “dream team” of displaced kids, who help them negotiate a series of thrilling and hilarious adventures.
- 10/28/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In our latest World Cinema column, we take a look at how tax breaks affect the movie industry, and how they kept The Hobbit in New Zealand...
Stop the press. The once peaceful and pleasant country of New Zealand is a land on the brink of disaster. They're protesting in the streets! The Prime Minister has been forced to issue an emergency statement! And what about? Ah yes, the fact that The Hobbit might not be filmed there.
For those unfamiliar with the story, an acting union's threatened (but now resolved) boycott has led Warner Bros. to consider alternatives for their filming locations, citing the fact that the country can not be considered a stable environment for the production. In turn, this led to the protests and the intervention of Prime Minister John Key, who entered into talks with Warner.
As you can see from yesterday's story here, this appears to have been resolved,...
Stop the press. The once peaceful and pleasant country of New Zealand is a land on the brink of disaster. They're protesting in the streets! The Prime Minister has been forced to issue an emergency statement! And what about? Ah yes, the fact that The Hobbit might not be filmed there.
For those unfamiliar with the story, an acting union's threatened (but now resolved) boycott has led Warner Bros. to consider alternatives for their filming locations, citing the fact that the country can not be considered a stable environment for the production. In turn, this led to the protests and the intervention of Prime Minister John Key, who entered into talks with Warner.
As you can see from yesterday's story here, this appears to have been resolved,...
- 10/27/2010
- Den of Geek
British audiences give sequel to low-budget horror hit a chance, while Despicable Me wins the family film face-off
The winner
When Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows came out for Halloween 2000, exactly a year after the cult horror hit that spawned it, the film opened in the UK with a disappointing £1.09m. This compared with £5.88m for the first weekend of wide play for the original The Blair Witch Project.
This cautionary tale was presumably uppermost in the minds of executives at Paramount Pictures as it produced and distributed Paranormal Activity 2, the sequel to the low-budget chiller it originally acquired at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival with remake rights in mind. Encoded in the DNA of its marketing campaign was the message that Paranormal Activity 2 was no Blair Witch 2.
On the evidence of PA2's opening of £3.76m, including £453,000 in previews, that message has been received by UK cinemagoers.
The winner
When Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows came out for Halloween 2000, exactly a year after the cult horror hit that spawned it, the film opened in the UK with a disappointing £1.09m. This compared with £5.88m for the first weekend of wide play for the original The Blair Witch Project.
This cautionary tale was presumably uppermost in the minds of executives at Paramount Pictures as it produced and distributed Paranormal Activity 2, the sequel to the low-budget chiller it originally acquired at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival with remake rights in mind. Encoded in the DNA of its marketing campaign was the message that Paranormal Activity 2 was no Blair Witch 2.
On the evidence of PA2's opening of £3.76m, including £453,000 in previews, that message has been received by UK cinemagoers.
- 10/26/2010
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
Following a group of children on a 3,000-mile odyssey, this film so clearly wants to be loved it seems churlish not to
Irksome and endearing by turns, Africa United chases a gang of kids on a 3,000-mile odyssey south from Kigali to attend the World Cup finals in Johannesburg. What follows is a bouncy crossbreed of Slumdog Millionaire, Enid Blyton and a Unicef commercial; a film that so dearly wants to be adored and adopted that it seems positively churlish to shoo it away. This gambols from HIV clinic to perilous jungle and from child soldiers to sex tourists, while the kids just keep on smiling, tackling all manner of horrors with extrovert am-dram stylings and metaphorical swigs of Sunny Delight.
Rating: 3/5
Xan Brooks
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds...
Irksome and endearing by turns, Africa United chases a gang of kids on a 3,000-mile odyssey south from Kigali to attend the World Cup finals in Johannesburg. What follows is a bouncy crossbreed of Slumdog Millionaire, Enid Blyton and a Unicef commercial; a film that so dearly wants to be adored and adopted that it seems positively churlish to shoo it away. This gambols from HIV clinic to perilous jungle and from child soldiers to sex tourists, while the kids just keep on smiling, tackling all manner of horrors with extrovert am-dram stylings and metaphorical swigs of Sunny Delight.
Rating: 3/5
Xan Brooks
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds...
- 10/21/2010
- by Xan Brooks
- The Guardian - Film News
With filmmakers everywhere suffering from budget cuts, our latest World Cinema column provides some handy tips for cash-strapped directors...
Cuts. More cuts. France is on strike again. Demonstrations. It's pretty depressing right now out there. And if it's bad for us, think what it must be for those poor struggling Hollywood filmmakers!
The Spider-Man reboot is a prime example, which has had its budget cut from Spider-Man 3's bloated $258 million to a paltry $80 million. How will they even feed themselves on set?! Maybe there will no longer be a choice between the salmon and the crab?
But take heart, and don't despair, as filmmakers have for years been creative and, indeed, crafty at squeezing maximum product out of budgets that, to be honest, probably couldn't even pay for a port-a-loo in Hollywood...
Shoot on location
Can't afford to build expensive sets? Why bother? The world will provide. This has...
Cuts. More cuts. France is on strike again. Demonstrations. It's pretty depressing right now out there. And if it's bad for us, think what it must be for those poor struggling Hollywood filmmakers!
The Spider-Man reboot is a prime example, which has had its budget cut from Spider-Man 3's bloated $258 million to a paltry $80 million. How will they even feed themselves on set?! Maybe there will no longer be a choice between the salmon and the crab?
But take heart, and don't despair, as filmmakers have for years been creative and, indeed, crafty at squeezing maximum product out of budgets that, to be honest, probably couldn't even pay for a port-a-loo in Hollywood...
Shoot on location
Can't afford to build expensive sets? Why bother? The world will provide. This has...
- 10/20/2010
- Den of Geek
The Facebook story did well, but Steve Carell animation Despicable Me tops the table. And Vampires Suck just won't die
The winner #1
While every major studio has developed either a successful animation division or a distribution relationship with a successful animation producer, for years, Universal has taken up the rear in this field. The company can only have gazed with envy at the likes of 20th Century Fox (Ice Age) and Warner Bros (Happy Feet), to say nothing, of course, of market leaders Disney/Pixar and the Paramount-distributed DreamWorks Animation.
But that's all changed, and in impressive style, with Despicable Me, the first film from Illumination Entertainment, which is co-owned and exclusively distributed by Universal. Founded and led by former 20th Century Fox Animation president Chris Meledandri, Illumination has hit the ball out of the park on its first swing at the bat, with a film that has already grossed...
The winner #1
While every major studio has developed either a successful animation division or a distribution relationship with a successful animation producer, for years, Universal has taken up the rear in this field. The company can only have gazed with envy at the likes of 20th Century Fox (Ice Age) and Warner Bros (Happy Feet), to say nothing, of course, of market leaders Disney/Pixar and the Paramount-distributed DreamWorks Animation.
But that's all changed, and in impressive style, with Despicable Me, the first film from Illumination Entertainment, which is co-owned and exclusively distributed by Universal. Founded and led by former 20th Century Fox Animation president Chris Meledandri, Illumination has hit the ball out of the park on its first swing at the bat, with a film that has already grossed...
- 10/19/2010
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
The 54th BFI London Film Festival is now under way and we have video highlights of the first five days.
The event is on from October 13 to 28. Watch the videos below to catch up on everything that's happened so far at this British Film Institute celebration of cinema.
The festival opened with the European gala premiere screening of Never Let Me Go, starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield.
On Day 2, we spoke to international filmmakers including Kiran Rao (Dhobi Ghat) and Pernille Fischer Christensen (A Family), as well as the stars of Let Me In - the latest vampire film to hit the big screen.
The third day closed with the European premiere of Conviction starring Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell and Minnie Driver. The event ended in an emotional Q&A featuring the woman who inspired the film, Betty Anne Waters.
Day 4 featured the UK premiere of Anton Corbijn...
The event is on from October 13 to 28. Watch the videos below to catch up on everything that's happened so far at this British Film Institute celebration of cinema.
The festival opened with the European gala premiere screening of Never Let Me Go, starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield.
On Day 2, we spoke to international filmmakers including Kiran Rao (Dhobi Ghat) and Pernille Fischer Christensen (A Family), as well as the stars of Let Me In - the latest vampire film to hit the big screen.
The third day closed with the European premiere of Conviction starring Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell and Minnie Driver. The event ended in an emotional Q&A featuring the woman who inspired the film, Betty Anne Waters.
Day 4 featured the UK premiere of Anton Corbijn...
- 10/18/2010
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Despicable Me (U)
(Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, 2010, Us) Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett. 95 mins
Despite being zippily outlandish and cartoony, there's a certain truthfulness to this animation about a would-be supervillain who's always being outdone: it's basically how every aspiring animation company feels when they look at Pixar. Whatever fiendish new weaponry they develop, Pixar's still winning this cuddly arms race. But judging by this effort from Universal and Illumination, in which Carell's supposedly evil heart is melted by three spirited little girls, they're catching up fast. With its polished visuals, sharply timed slapstick, and mix of fantastical adventure and domestic reality, it could be a spin-off of The Incredibles.
The Social Network (12A)
(David Fincher, 2010, Us) Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake. 120 mins
Fincher and West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin's breathless chronicle of the Facebook creators could well be the defining film of...
(Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, 2010, Us) Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett. 95 mins
Despite being zippily outlandish and cartoony, there's a certain truthfulness to this animation about a would-be supervillain who's always being outdone: it's basically how every aspiring animation company feels when they look at Pixar. Whatever fiendish new weaponry they develop, Pixar's still winning this cuddly arms race. But judging by this effort from Universal and Illumination, in which Carell's supposedly evil heart is melted by three spirited little girls, they're catching up fast. With its polished visuals, sharply timed slapstick, and mix of fantastical adventure and domestic reality, it could be a spin-off of The Incredibles.
The Social Network (12A)
(David Fincher, 2010, Us) Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake. 120 mins
Fincher and West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin's breathless chronicle of the Facebook creators could well be the defining film of...
- 10/15/2010
- by The guide
- The Guardian - Film News
We’ve just been sent the brand new edition of the Film Distributors Association’s Cinema Scoop – October Edition by the awesome chaps at Upbeat. It’s hosted by Sian Welby and gives us a lovely round of the movies we can expect to see coming up in October. In this edition, they also show us what we can expect to see in the last three months of the year.
Movies featured in this edition include (click any of the following for our coverage including reviews of many of these): Despicable Me, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, A Town Called Panic, Back to the Future, Made in Dagenham, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, Easy A, Life as We Know It, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Red, Takers, Paranormal Activity 2, Vampires Suck, The Social Network, Mr Nice and Africa United.
Movies coming...
Movies featured in this edition include (click any of the following for our coverage including reviews of many of these): Despicable Me, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, A Town Called Panic, Back to the Future, Made in Dagenham, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, Easy A, Life as We Know It, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Red, Takers, Paranormal Activity 2, Vampires Suck, The Social Network, Mr Nice and Africa United.
Movies coming...
- 10/4/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
There is real strength in depth to the British showing at the crucial Canadian festival. The departing John Woodward must be proud and disappointed
It's a recurring irony in Hollywood that when a studio boss gets fired, or a company goes bust, the slate of films they leave behind often turns out to be their most successful.
So perhaps it was inevitable, in the week John Woodward quit as chief executive of the condemned UK Film Council, that British cinema would make one of its strongest ever showings at the Toronto film festival. It's not just the sheer volume of British films unspooling – 29 features, including 13 backed by the UKFC – but the strength in depth.
Toronto is America's most important film festival, even though it takes place in Canada, because it serves as the unofficial launchpad for Oscar season. Slumdog Millionaire began its all-conquering campaign there two years ago.
Oscar tipsters...
It's a recurring irony in Hollywood that when a studio boss gets fired, or a company goes bust, the slate of films they leave behind often turns out to be their most successful.
So perhaps it was inevitable, in the week John Woodward quit as chief executive of the condemned UK Film Council, that British cinema would make one of its strongest ever showings at the Toronto film festival. It's not just the sheer volume of British films unspooling – 29 features, including 13 backed by the UKFC – but the strength in depth.
Toronto is America's most important film festival, even though it takes place in Canada, because it serves as the unofficial launchpad for Oscar season. Slumdog Millionaire began its all-conquering campaign there two years ago.
Oscar tipsters...
- 9/16/2010
- by Adam Dawtrey
- The Guardian - Film News
A total of 32 British films have been selected for the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff). 29 feature films and three short films have been selected, including 13 funded by the UK Film Council. The 13 films funded by the UK Film Council are Africa United, Another Year, Brighton Rock, Cirkus Columbia, The First Grader, I Am Slave, The King's Speech, Made in Dagenham, Neds, Submarine, Tamara Drewe, Tracker, and West is West. Also in Toronto, UK sales companies will be selling over 100 British films to international buyers. The UK Export Office, supported by the ...
- 9/15/2010
- BusinessofCinema
The BFI London Film Festival has announced the rest of its galas and sidebars on top of opening film Never Let Me Go and closing film 127 Hours. The festival has added a diverse roster of films ranging from the award-tipped The King’s Speech, with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham-Carter to Darren Aronofsky’s rave reviewed Black Swan. Over 16 days the festival will screen a total of 197 features and 112 shorts, including 11 world, 23 international and 33 European premieres. The fest runs from October 13-28. Julianne Moore, Colin Firth, Hilary Swank, Natalie Portman, Helena Bonham Carter, Naomie Harris, Julian Schnabel and Christy Turlington Burns will be coming to London to promote their movies. Galas & Special Screenings The King’s Speech, with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter; Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, with Natalie Portman; Mike Leigh's Another Year; Neds, directed by Peter Mullan; The Kids Are Alright,...
- 9/8/2010
- by TIM ADLER
- Deadline London
The full line up for the 54th BFI London Film Festival was announced in the Odeon, Leicester Square this morning, with a number of highly anticipated films set to light up the capital this October.
The festival runs from the 13th to the 28th of October and will begin with Mark Romanek’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s haunting masterpiece Never Let Me Go, and will close with Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours which stars James Franco.
Announcing the roster were Artistic Director Sandra Hebron and the Director of the British Film Institute, Amanda Nevill.
HeyUGuys will be all over the festival this year, it looks like it will be one to remember.
Click here to view the full calendar
The 54Th BFI London Film Festival Programme Launch
London, Wednesday 8 September: The programme for the 54th BFI London Film Festival, launched today by Artistic Director Sandra Hebron, showcases an array of...
The festival runs from the 13th to the 28th of October and will begin with Mark Romanek’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s haunting masterpiece Never Let Me Go, and will close with Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours which stars James Franco.
Announcing the roster were Artistic Director Sandra Hebron and the Director of the British Film Institute, Amanda Nevill.
HeyUGuys will be all over the festival this year, it looks like it will be one to remember.
Click here to view the full calendar
The 54Th BFI London Film Festival Programme Launch
London, Wednesday 8 September: The programme for the 54th BFI London Film Festival, launched today by Artistic Director Sandra Hebron, showcases an array of...
- 9/8/2010
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
All eyes are on Africa to witness the on-going FIFA World Cup and Kelly Rowland shows her support by debuting a music video for "Everywhere You Go", an Mtn theme song of the soccer championship. In it, the ex-member of Destiny's Child is seen dancing in front of colorful graphics.
Of the idea behind the clip, Antos Stella of As Entertainment told Tonight, "We want to reflect what is happening in urban Africa." She added, "I am hoping that this video will be relevant in five years' time. It's not just part of the World Cup. Our audience is the MTV market, first in Africa and then in the rest of Europe."
"Everywhere You Go" features African all-star group Rhythm of Africa United who also appear in the video. "I'd always wanted to do a song featuring Africa's top artists," Antos explained about the star-studded feature. "I'd covered the whole...
Of the idea behind the clip, Antos Stella of As Entertainment told Tonight, "We want to reflect what is happening in urban Africa." She added, "I am hoping that this video will be relevant in five years' time. It's not just part of the World Cup. Our audience is the MTV market, first in Africa and then in the rest of Europe."
"Everywhere You Go" features African all-star group Rhythm of Africa United who also appear in the video. "I'd always wanted to do a song featuring Africa's top artists," Antos explained about the star-studded feature. "I'd covered the whole...
- 6/16/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
There won't be any big costly parties in Cannes this year for the folks at Pathe – it seems to be a Berlin, skip Cannes and go to Venice type of year. The Illusionist preemed in Berlin and makes an appearance in the Market screenings, and the much anticipated Miral from Julian Schnabel skipped a non-comp, non-confidence vote and is instead poised to double dip in Venice and Tiff. - There won't be any big costly parties in Cannes this year for the folks at Pathe – it seems to be a Berlin, skip Cannes and go to Venice type of year. The Illusionist preemed in Berlin and makes an appearance in the Market screenings, and the much anticipated Miral from Julian Schnabel skipped a non-comp, non-confidence vote and is instead poised to double dip in Venice and Tiff. All That Glitters (Tout Ce Qui Brille) by Gé...
- 5/12/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
There won't be any big costly parties in Cannes this year for the folks at Pathe – it seems to be a Berlin, skip Cannes and go to Venice type of year. The Illusionist preemed in Berlin and makes an appearance in the Market screenings, and the much anticipated Miral from Julian Schnabel skipped a non-comp, non-confidence vote and is instead poised to double dip in Venice and Tiff. All That Glitters (Tout Ce Qui Brille) by Géraldine Nakache - Completed Centurion by Neil Marshall - Completed The Illusionnist (L'illusioniste) by Sylvain Chomet - Completed Benvenuti Al Sud by Luca Miniero - Completed Camping 2 by Fabien Onteniente - Completed L'italien by Olivier Baroux - Completed Oceans by Jacques Perrin - Completed Africa United by Debs Gardner Paterson - Production Farewell by Christian Carion - Completed Loup (Wolf) by Nicolas Vanier - Completed Miral by Julian Schnabel - Post-Production Rien A...
- 5/11/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
It's a wrap! The Martin Gropius Bau is empty and the final pickups follow. This is a work in progress and readers are invited and welcome to contribute. Presales have returned in reaction to the reduced number of finished films on offer over the past two markets. Presales applies across the board from Us to French and even Italian films. English language films are increasingly coming out of the major non English language territories but local product is impacting sales on Us films internationally. Business was quickly wrapped up but it was done with a healthy number of buys reported. Lower prices have become accepted but the market must have product as this event proved.
Adriana Chiesa has licensed Federico Moccia’s teen trilogy to Savor to Spain. The first title, Sorry If I Love You (Scusa Ma Ti Chiamo Amore) grossed $27m when released by Medusa on 600 prints in Italy.
Adriana Chiesa has licensed Federico Moccia’s teen trilogy to Savor to Spain. The first title, Sorry If I Love You (Scusa Ma Ti Chiamo Amore) grossed $27m when released by Medusa on 600 prints in Italy.
- 3/9/2010
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
The qualifying stages are over, and all eyes now are on next year's soccer World Cup finals in Germany, which is set to dominate the small screen for much of July and August. The indie movie industry is determined not to be left on the sidelines, with a full squad of soccer-themed projects making the rounds at the American Film Market in Los Angeles. And a visit by Brazilian legend Pele to AFM in Santa Monica also helped remind everyone of the popularity of the sport. With interest likely to reach a fever pitch in the first half of next year, available projects offer a dazzlingly varied look at the world's most-played sport, including a documentary on the game as therapy for psychiatric patients (Crazy for Football, sold by Intramovies), a portrait of an immigrant team in Iceland (Africa United, repped by Bavaria International) and the story of a young female player who battles breast cancer off the field (Offside, also from Bavaria).
- 11/11/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The qualifying stages are over, and all eyes now are on next year's soccer World Cup finals in Germany, which is set to dominate the small screen for much of July and August. The indie movie industry is determined not to be left on the sidelines, with a full squad of soccer-themed projects making the rounds at the American Film Market in Los Angeles. And a visit by Brazilian legend Pele to AFM in Santa Monica also helped remind everyone of the popularity of the sport. With interest likely to reach a fever pitch in the first half of next year, available projects offer a dazzlingly varied look at the world's most-played sport, including a documentary on the game as therapy for psychiatric patients (Crazy for Football, sold by Intramovies), a portrait of an immigrant team in Iceland (Africa United, repped by Bavaria International) and the story of a young female player who battles breast cancer off the field (Offside, also from Bavaria).
- 11/8/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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