Sweet, low-key drama Puzzle stars the always watchable Kelly Macdonald as a downtrodden working-class housewife who discovers she has an incredible aptitude for assembling jigsaw puzzles. This directing debut for experienced producer Marc Turtletaub (Little Miss Sunshine, Loving) ticks along pleasantly, driven by an efficient if slightly bland script by Oren Moverman and Polly Mann, adapted from an Argentinian film called The Puzzle by Natalia Smirnoff. Other assets include a fine supporting cast, led by Bollywood superstar and now in-demand Hollywood supporting player Irrfan Khan (The Life of Pi, The Lunchbox) as an extramarital love interest for Macdonald’s character. The...
- 1/29/2018
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s among the two sections that we usually don’t put much focus on (yes, we love subtitles, but we’re more concerned, naturally more inclined to cover the deluge of American Indie film offerings) but among the dozen film selections in the World Cinema Dramatic Comp section we find the latest from Argentinean director Natalia Smirnoff (she gave us the Berlin Film Fest winner The Puzzle) who returns with Lock Charmer, we find the highly anticipated film from Hong Khaou (Lilting) and a title which we start speculating on last year in Stuart Murdoch’s God Help the Girl which stars Emily Browning, Olly Alexander and Hannah Murray (see pic above). Also worth the mention is the directing debut from writer Eskil Vogt – who co-wrote Reprise and Oslo, August 31st for Joachim Trier. Here are the dozen selected.
“52 Tuesdays” (Australia) — Directed by Sophie Hyde, written by Matthew Cormack.
“52 Tuesdays” (Australia) — Directed by Sophie Hyde, written by Matthew Cormack.
- 12/4/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Now that Sundance and Berlin are over, what do we have to look forward to? Cannes of course. However, in terms of continuing business, I want to put a spotlight on what to look forward to next Sundance (and Berlin) as an example of long lasting effects of filmmakers/ actors/ buyers and sellers. I will begin this depiction of a long journey beginning with my friend, Rodrigo Bellot -- writer, director, producer and casting agent . Rodrigo made his first film, Sexual Dependency, in 2003 with producers Ara Katz and Sam Engelbart who brought us on to find festival and international representation. Rigo was pleased with the work and we have become fast friends since then. When I first spoke with Rigo about We Are What We Are, he referred me to Memento, his international sales agent.
During Cannes 2012, I went to Memento to write more about this film which is the first remake in a long time of a film from Mexico, Somos lo que hay by Mexican director Jorge Michel Grau. At Memento, Tanja Meissner ♀ and Emilie Georges ♀ referred me to their American colleague and producer of the film, Nicholas Shumaker who gave me more of the film's history. During Afm 2011, Rodrigo and his professional partner Andrew D. Corkin who previously produced Martha Marcy May Marlene had come to Memento with the idea of remaking the English language version of this Mexican (Spanish language) film about a family of cannibals. They were, predictably, looking for financial partners. Memento said they would support the remake. They had wanted to work with the director Jim Mickle since seeing the Tiff 2010 Midnight Madness Audience Award winner, Stake Land which has become a cult vampire picture. Mickle has transposed the story to a poor part of the Catskills region in New York State. Memento sees the horror genre as an ambitious genre when it is created with good ideas, not exploitative but an elevated sort of horror, along the lines of Let the Right One In. Memento wants to do horror films only with directors and authors they like. It has taken seven years to establish their brand, and the principals Emilie Georges and Tanja Meissner are not looking for horror per se. They long for smart horror because there is a consistent market for intelligent horror stories. Their horror films will stand out for their buyers because of the director-driven aspect, not for the horror itself. Memento is putting together two other films with bigger budgets for Jim which will go over the next six to nine months. These next two, Night Hunter and Cold in July were announced during by Screen International around the time of Cannes 2012 and are both being produced with Linda Moran's ♀ and Rene Bastian's New York company Belladonna. To hear Jim Mickle speak about the use of Adobe technology in the making We Are What We Are, visit Adobe TV at Sundance. More on Mickle is in Screen. We Are What We Are will costar Ambyr Childers ♀ who was the milk skinned blonde in Gangster Squad and played Elizabeth Dodd in The Master, and Julia Garner ♀, who recently picked up rave reviews for her performance as a naïve Morman girl in Rebecca Thomas’ Electrik Children, a Berlinale 2012 hit. She will next be seen in Stephan Chobsky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and is in StudioCanal’s The Last Exorcism 2. Film industry veteran Jack Turner is also producing. Mfi chief Emilie Georges and international sales head Tanja Meissner are executive producing alongside Mo Noorali and Linda Moran ♀ of Belladonna Productions, who previously produced Mickle’s other films, and Brett Fitzgerald. Mfi’s Nicholas Kaiser has a co-producer credit. We Are What We Are was shot in the Catskills, starting May 29, 2012 for a January 2013 delivery in time for its projected Sundance premier. With that intent, Mfi began carefully preselling the film, first at Berlin’s Efm 2011 where it was prebought by Entertainment One for U.K, Scandinavia, South Africa and France. Koch Media prebought Germany. New York and Los Angeles-based Three Point Capital and Hsbc provided additional funding. At Afm 2013, the film sold to Transformer for Japan and Zamie for So. Korea. Middle East is also been sold along with Turkey (Callinos Films). Memento's marketing and finance plan allowed for the U.S. to be sold during Sundance 2013 and as we all know now, (From Deadline Hollywood): "In a low seven-figure deal for U.S. rights, eOne acquired the Jim Mickle-directed We Are What We Are, which premiered last Friday at the Library Center Theatre in the Park City At Midnight section. The plot: a devastating storm washes up clues that lead authorities closer to unraveling the dark secrets of the Parker family, who are cannibals. That premise is Not treated as slasher fare, it’s far more stylish and the buyer crowd and audience at the premiere screening ate it up and feel they’ve found a director with a voice worth hearing. The film stars Ambyr Childers, Bill Sage, Julia Garner, Michael Parks, Wyatt Russell and Kelly McGillis. It has gotten strong reviews beyond the genre crowd, and it gives eOne a good theatrical offering. Deal was finished on the flight back to Los Angeles. I’ve heard both the Wme Global and eOne teams were on the same flight back from Park City. They haggled but by the time the plane landed, eOne hit the asks made by the agents, who denied this colorful story. Somehow, it fits with the frenzied pace of deals due to the influx of new buyers. eOne will put it out in a platform theatrical release." Since Cannes 2012, eOne acquired Alliance and is poised to make a very splashy release of this film. EOne had not pursued the film for U.S. until Sundance and the deal was verifiably finalized and upped on the plane as described above. Memento has consistent relations with its directors. It is now transitioning though natural growth into handling larger films. It will still handle about 8 films a year and it will maintain the same strategy, though films of second and third time directors will be larger. Memento still wants newcomers and so it has 2 divisions with Artscope aiming more for the festival circuit for new directors like Natalia Smirnoff ♀ of The Puzzle which premiered in '09 at San Sebastian and was picked up for U.S. by IFC, Circles (see my past blog), In the Name Of by Malgorzata Szumowska ♀ which won the 2013 Teddy Award for daring to “challenge the stereotypes of homosexuality versus religion with a personal story, told in a deeply humane way”. It was picked up in Berlin where it premiered in Competition by Film Movement, and Lore by Cate Shortland ♀.
During Cannes 2012, I went to Memento to write more about this film which is the first remake in a long time of a film from Mexico, Somos lo que hay by Mexican director Jorge Michel Grau. At Memento, Tanja Meissner ♀ and Emilie Georges ♀ referred me to their American colleague and producer of the film, Nicholas Shumaker who gave me more of the film's history. During Afm 2011, Rodrigo and his professional partner Andrew D. Corkin who previously produced Martha Marcy May Marlene had come to Memento with the idea of remaking the English language version of this Mexican (Spanish language) film about a family of cannibals. They were, predictably, looking for financial partners. Memento said they would support the remake. They had wanted to work with the director Jim Mickle since seeing the Tiff 2010 Midnight Madness Audience Award winner, Stake Land which has become a cult vampire picture. Mickle has transposed the story to a poor part of the Catskills region in New York State. Memento sees the horror genre as an ambitious genre when it is created with good ideas, not exploitative but an elevated sort of horror, along the lines of Let the Right One In. Memento wants to do horror films only with directors and authors they like. It has taken seven years to establish their brand, and the principals Emilie Georges and Tanja Meissner are not looking for horror per se. They long for smart horror because there is a consistent market for intelligent horror stories. Their horror films will stand out for their buyers because of the director-driven aspect, not for the horror itself. Memento is putting together two other films with bigger budgets for Jim which will go over the next six to nine months. These next two, Night Hunter and Cold in July were announced during by Screen International around the time of Cannes 2012 and are both being produced with Linda Moran's ♀ and Rene Bastian's New York company Belladonna. To hear Jim Mickle speak about the use of Adobe technology in the making We Are What We Are, visit Adobe TV at Sundance. More on Mickle is in Screen. We Are What We Are will costar Ambyr Childers ♀ who was the milk skinned blonde in Gangster Squad and played Elizabeth Dodd in The Master, and Julia Garner ♀, who recently picked up rave reviews for her performance as a naïve Morman girl in Rebecca Thomas’ Electrik Children, a Berlinale 2012 hit. She will next be seen in Stephan Chobsky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and is in StudioCanal’s The Last Exorcism 2. Film industry veteran Jack Turner is also producing. Mfi chief Emilie Georges and international sales head Tanja Meissner are executive producing alongside Mo Noorali and Linda Moran ♀ of Belladonna Productions, who previously produced Mickle’s other films, and Brett Fitzgerald. Mfi’s Nicholas Kaiser has a co-producer credit. We Are What We Are was shot in the Catskills, starting May 29, 2012 for a January 2013 delivery in time for its projected Sundance premier. With that intent, Mfi began carefully preselling the film, first at Berlin’s Efm 2011 where it was prebought by Entertainment One for U.K, Scandinavia, South Africa and France. Koch Media prebought Germany. New York and Los Angeles-based Three Point Capital and Hsbc provided additional funding. At Afm 2013, the film sold to Transformer for Japan and Zamie for So. Korea. Middle East is also been sold along with Turkey (Callinos Films). Memento's marketing and finance plan allowed for the U.S. to be sold during Sundance 2013 and as we all know now, (From Deadline Hollywood): "In a low seven-figure deal for U.S. rights, eOne acquired the Jim Mickle-directed We Are What We Are, which premiered last Friday at the Library Center Theatre in the Park City At Midnight section. The plot: a devastating storm washes up clues that lead authorities closer to unraveling the dark secrets of the Parker family, who are cannibals. That premise is Not treated as slasher fare, it’s far more stylish and the buyer crowd and audience at the premiere screening ate it up and feel they’ve found a director with a voice worth hearing. The film stars Ambyr Childers, Bill Sage, Julia Garner, Michael Parks, Wyatt Russell and Kelly McGillis. It has gotten strong reviews beyond the genre crowd, and it gives eOne a good theatrical offering. Deal was finished on the flight back to Los Angeles. I’ve heard both the Wme Global and eOne teams were on the same flight back from Park City. They haggled but by the time the plane landed, eOne hit the asks made by the agents, who denied this colorful story. Somehow, it fits with the frenzied pace of deals due to the influx of new buyers. eOne will put it out in a platform theatrical release." Since Cannes 2012, eOne acquired Alliance and is poised to make a very splashy release of this film. EOne had not pursued the film for U.S. until Sundance and the deal was verifiably finalized and upped on the plane as described above. Memento has consistent relations with its directors. It is now transitioning though natural growth into handling larger films. It will still handle about 8 films a year and it will maintain the same strategy, though films of second and third time directors will be larger. Memento still wants newcomers and so it has 2 divisions with Artscope aiming more for the festival circuit for new directors like Natalia Smirnoff ♀ of The Puzzle which premiered in '09 at San Sebastian and was picked up for U.S. by IFC, Circles (see my past blog), In the Name Of by Malgorzata Szumowska ♀ which won the 2013 Teddy Award for daring to “challenge the stereotypes of homosexuality versus religion with a personal story, told in a deeply humane way”. It was picked up in Berlin where it premiered in Competition by Film Movement, and Lore by Cate Shortland ♀.
- 2/21/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
National Geographic Channel, together with Coca-Cola Latin America, has announced the launch of documentary series “Viviendo Positivamente” (Living Positively). The series premiered in 19 countries across Latin America on Nov. 6, 2012.
The documentary covers 40,000 kilometers, five countries and eight stories in the course of four episodes about the lives of everyday heroes who have overcome major social, environmental and economic challenges to make an impact on their communities and the world. All of the protagonists are supported by Coca-Cola Latin America’s Living Positively program, part of the company’s commitment to social and environmental values.
The documentaries were directed by world-renowned Latin American filmmakers: Kátia Lund (“City of God”) from Brazil, Carlos Carrera (“The Crime of Father Amaro”) from Mexico, Natalia Smirnoff (“Puzzle”) from Argentina, and Ciro Guerra (“The Wandering Shadows”) from Colombia. Each of the four installments will focus on a different social cause: creating opportunities for work and education in impoverished communities, encouraging healthy bodies and minds, recycling, and agriculture. The heroes and their projects are based countries throughout the region, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico and Peru.
“The stories in ‘Viviendo Positivamente’ inspire viewers to become aware, to get involved, to change, to contribute to their community and improve their own lives,” said Guido Rosales, Integrated Marketing Communications Director for Coca-Cola Latin America. “Together with the National Geographic Channel and high-caliber directing talent, we are conveying these messages in a compelling and powerful way. Our organizations share a lot of synergy, and we’re pleased to be working with a leader of innovative and educational programming with such impressive scale in the region.”
“We found in each protagonist a powerful human and social value that deserved to be documented and shared with society,” said Fernando Semenzato, Svp of Content for Fox International Channels Latin America. “Nat Geo and Coca-Cola share a passion for sustainable development and environmental preservation, and we’re thrilled we had the opportunity to work together to produce special content that aims to inform, entertain, and educate audiences about our world and the environment in which we live.”
The documentary series was first introduced with stories from Argentina and Mexico, directed by Natalia Smirnoff and Carlos Carrera.
In Argentina, high in the mountains of Rosario de Lerma, live extremely isolated communities. There, Ana Virasoro leads the Alfarcito Foundation and a school that provides technical education and the only possibility for young people to improve their lives. Nat Geo followed their work, and shares this source of inspiration.
Later, the Nat Geo team tells the story of Salvador Casteñeda, whose life was changed radically by education. Even though he had to struggle against his education to preserve his indigenous language and customs, it made it possible for him to fight for the rights of indigenous groups today.
The documentary serves as the latest example of Coca-Cola’s innovative approach to creating content, and highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability and sharing happiness. You can download the trailer reel and a sneak peek of the first episode here.
For more information on Coca-Cola’s Live Positively program, visit http://livepositively.com or http://viviendopositivamente.com.
For more information on National Geographic Channels, visit www.natgeotv.com.
The documentary covers 40,000 kilometers, five countries and eight stories in the course of four episodes about the lives of everyday heroes who have overcome major social, environmental and economic challenges to make an impact on their communities and the world. All of the protagonists are supported by Coca-Cola Latin America’s Living Positively program, part of the company’s commitment to social and environmental values.
The documentaries were directed by world-renowned Latin American filmmakers: Kátia Lund (“City of God”) from Brazil, Carlos Carrera (“The Crime of Father Amaro”) from Mexico, Natalia Smirnoff (“Puzzle”) from Argentina, and Ciro Guerra (“The Wandering Shadows”) from Colombia. Each of the four installments will focus on a different social cause: creating opportunities for work and education in impoverished communities, encouraging healthy bodies and minds, recycling, and agriculture. The heroes and their projects are based countries throughout the region, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico and Peru.
“The stories in ‘Viviendo Positivamente’ inspire viewers to become aware, to get involved, to change, to contribute to their community and improve their own lives,” said Guido Rosales, Integrated Marketing Communications Director for Coca-Cola Latin America. “Together with the National Geographic Channel and high-caliber directing talent, we are conveying these messages in a compelling and powerful way. Our organizations share a lot of synergy, and we’re pleased to be working with a leader of innovative and educational programming with such impressive scale in the region.”
“We found in each protagonist a powerful human and social value that deserved to be documented and shared with society,” said Fernando Semenzato, Svp of Content for Fox International Channels Latin America. “Nat Geo and Coca-Cola share a passion for sustainable development and environmental preservation, and we’re thrilled we had the opportunity to work together to produce special content that aims to inform, entertain, and educate audiences about our world and the environment in which we live.”
The documentary series was first introduced with stories from Argentina and Mexico, directed by Natalia Smirnoff and Carlos Carrera.
In Argentina, high in the mountains of Rosario de Lerma, live extremely isolated communities. There, Ana Virasoro leads the Alfarcito Foundation and a school that provides technical education and the only possibility for young people to improve their lives. Nat Geo followed their work, and shares this source of inspiration.
Later, the Nat Geo team tells the story of Salvador Casteñeda, whose life was changed radically by education. Even though he had to struggle against his education to preserve his indigenous language and customs, it made it possible for him to fight for the rights of indigenous groups today.
The documentary serves as the latest example of Coca-Cola’s innovative approach to creating content, and highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability and sharing happiness. You can download the trailer reel and a sneak peek of the first episode here.
For more information on Coca-Cola’s Live Positively program, visit http://livepositively.com or http://viviendopositivamente.com.
For more information on National Geographic Channels, visit www.natgeotv.com.
- 11/7/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Reviewed by Amanda Georges
(May 2011)
Directed/Written by: Natalia Smirnoff
Starring: Maria Onetto, Gabriel Goity and Arturo Goetz
It is her 50th birthday, and Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) is collecting the shards of a broken dinner plate. With maternal care, she arranges the fragments in a circle in a matter of seconds. There is a piece missing, but there is no time to search for it as she needs to bring out the cake, one that she baked and decorated for her own birthday and will clean up after her guests have departed.
Natalia Smirnoff’s film “Puzzle” (“Rompecabezas”) tells you most of what you need to know about its protagonist in the first few minutes: Maria is enslaved by her domestic life, to the point that she prepares and serves her birthday meal to a room of oblivious family and friends, and does it all with a smile that hides her aggravation.
(May 2011)
Directed/Written by: Natalia Smirnoff
Starring: Maria Onetto, Gabriel Goity and Arturo Goetz
It is her 50th birthday, and Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) is collecting the shards of a broken dinner plate. With maternal care, she arranges the fragments in a circle in a matter of seconds. There is a piece missing, but there is no time to search for it as she needs to bring out the cake, one that she baked and decorated for her own birthday and will clean up after her guests have departed.
Natalia Smirnoff’s film “Puzzle” (“Rompecabezas”) tells you most of what you need to know about its protagonist in the first few minutes: Maria is enslaved by her domestic life, to the point that she prepares and serves her birthday meal to a room of oblivious family and friends, and does it all with a smile that hides her aggravation.
- 5/25/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Reviewed by Amanda Georges
(May 2011)
Directed/Written by: Natalia Smirnoff
Starring: Maria Onetto, Gabriel Goity and Arturo Goetz
It is her 50th birthday, and Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) is collecting the shards of a broken dinner plate. With maternal care, she arranges the fragments in a circle in a matter of seconds. There is a piece missing, but there is no time to search for it as she needs to bring out the cake, one that she baked and decorated for her own birthday and will clean up after her guests have departed.
Natalia Smirnoff’s film “Puzzle” (“Rompecabezas”) tells you most of what you need to know about its protagonist in the first few minutes: Maria is enslaved by her domestic life, to the point that she prepares and serves her birthday meal to a room of oblivious family and friends, and does it all with a smile that hides her aggravation.
(May 2011)
Directed/Written by: Natalia Smirnoff
Starring: Maria Onetto, Gabriel Goity and Arturo Goetz
It is her 50th birthday, and Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) is collecting the shards of a broken dinner plate. With maternal care, she arranges the fragments in a circle in a matter of seconds. There is a piece missing, but there is no time to search for it as she needs to bring out the cake, one that she baked and decorated for her own birthday and will clean up after her guests have departed.
Natalia Smirnoff’s film “Puzzle” (“Rompecabezas”) tells you most of what you need to know about its protagonist in the first few minutes: Maria is enslaved by her domestic life, to the point that she prepares and serves her birthday meal to a room of oblivious family and friends, and does it all with a smile that hides her aggravation.
- 5/25/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Pune International Film Festival poster
The Pune International Film Festival 2011 will be held from 6 to 13 January 2011. Silent Souls / Ovsyanki directed by Aleksei Fedorchenko of Russia, a film competing in World Cinema section will be the opening film of the festival.
The Government of Maharashtra will present the “Prabhat” Best International Film award comprising of $20,000 and “Prabhat” Best International Film Director comprising of $10,000.
The other awards in the festival are: Government of Maharashtra’s – “Sant Tukaram” Best International Marathi Film (Rs 5Lac), Akhil Bhartiya Chitrapat Maha Mandal Best Marathi Film Director (Rs.25,000), Akhil Bhartiya Chitrapat Maha Mandal – Best Marathi Film Actor( Rs.25,000) and Akhil Bhartiya Chitrapat Maha Mandal – Best screenplay Rs.25,000.
Life Time Achievement Awards will also be presented for outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
For Whistling Woods International, Student Competition, the awards are: Best Film ($ 2000), Best Director ($ 1000) and Best Screen Play (Us $ 1000). There is a special award for student cinematographers...
The Pune International Film Festival 2011 will be held from 6 to 13 January 2011. Silent Souls / Ovsyanki directed by Aleksei Fedorchenko of Russia, a film competing in World Cinema section will be the opening film of the festival.
The Government of Maharashtra will present the “Prabhat” Best International Film award comprising of $20,000 and “Prabhat” Best International Film Director comprising of $10,000.
The other awards in the festival are: Government of Maharashtra’s – “Sant Tukaram” Best International Marathi Film (Rs 5Lac), Akhil Bhartiya Chitrapat Maha Mandal Best Marathi Film Director (Rs.25,000), Akhil Bhartiya Chitrapat Maha Mandal – Best Marathi Film Actor( Rs.25,000) and Akhil Bhartiya Chitrapat Maha Mandal – Best screenplay Rs.25,000.
Life Time Achievement Awards will also be presented for outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
For Whistling Woods International, Student Competition, the awards are: Best Film ($ 2000), Best Director ($ 1000) and Best Screen Play (Us $ 1000). There is a special award for student cinematographers...
- 1/4/2011
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Among those they have tapped for the fest they have a premium Midnight Screening for Gilles Marchand's Black Heaven and they are closing the festival with Julie Bertuccelli's The Tree. - The Sales/Distribution/Production company continually pluck from a batch of interesting U.S independent film auteurs (they are back on board with So Yong Kim for her to be released in the Fall title, For Ellen), grabbing select Euro titles Natalia Smirnoff's Puzzle (a Berlin) along with French films which we've been talking non-stop for the better half of year. Among those they have tapped for the fest they have a premium Midnight Screening for Gilles Marchand's Black Heaven and they are closing the festival with Julie Bertuccelli's The Tree. (see Charlotte Gainsbourg in pic above). On the sales side of things, they are working with Marchand's partner in crime Dominik Moll...
- 5/13/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
The Sales/Distribution/Production company continually pluck from a batch of interesting U.S independent film auteurs (they are back on board with So Yong Kim for her to be released in the Fall title, For Ellen), grabbing select Euro titles Natalia Smirnoff's Puzzle (a Berlin) along with French films which we've been talking non-stop for the better half of year. Among those they have tapped for the fest they have a premium Midnight Screening for Gilles Marchand's Black Heaven and they are closing the festival with Julie Bertuccelli's The Tree. (see Charlotte Gainsbourg in pic above). On the sales side of things, they are working with Marchand's partner in crime Dominik Moll's filmed in Spain fantasy pic and are onboard Pawel Pawlikowski's new project – a helmer who's sabbatical has lasted a tad too long. Black Heaven (L'autre Monde) by Gilles Marchand - Completed The Monk...
- 5/12/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Guadalajara, Mexico -- Carlos Gaviria's Colombian road movie "Portraits in a Sea of Lies" and Nicolas Pereda's minimalist drama "Perpetuum Mobile," a Mexico-Canada co-production, took top honors on Friday at the 25th edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
"Portraits," Gaviria's freshman feature, revolves around a mute teenager who discovers dark secrets of her past while on a road trip with her cousin. Produced by Producciones Erwin Goggel, the film is seeking international distribution. Actress Paola Baldion nabbed best actress.
The austere drama "Perpetuum Mobile," produced by En Chinga Films, marks the second big victory on the Mexican film circuit for Pereda. His previous work, "Donde Estan Sus Historias?" won the jury prize at the Morelia International Film Festival in 2007.
The jury gave best director nods to Mexican helmer Carlos Carrera for his ghost story "Of Childhood," while the Ibero-American prize went to Ecuadorian filmmaker Sebastian Cordero for "Rabia,...
"Portraits," Gaviria's freshman feature, revolves around a mute teenager who discovers dark secrets of her past while on a road trip with her cousin. Produced by Producciones Erwin Goggel, the film is seeking international distribution. Actress Paola Baldion nabbed best actress.
The austere drama "Perpetuum Mobile," produced by En Chinga Films, marks the second big victory on the Mexican film circuit for Pereda. His previous work, "Donde Estan Sus Historias?" won the jury prize at the Morelia International Film Festival in 2007.
The jury gave best director nods to Mexican helmer Carlos Carrera for his ghost story "Of Childhood," while the Ibero-American prize went to Ecuadorian filmmaker Sebastian Cordero for "Rabia,...
- 3/19/2010
- by By John Hecht
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Until women reach a 50-50 parity with men directors, my mission continues to count the women directors in upcoming and recent film festivals (and an occasional informal glance at what’s selling in the markets). Women’s films in Berlin reflect women’s place in the world both in content and in the numbers of women represented as directors, producers, writers, etc. John Cooper of Sundance stresses the increasing and possibly 50-50 parity of women producers, but I am looking at the directors. As March is Women’s History Month (and all the other months are Men’s History Month according to Gloria Steinem’s L.A. Times Article of March 4, 2010) this blog is in honor of all women everywhere.
Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow for winning the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. La Times puts into perspective the fact that the Best Director Oscar went to Kathryn Bigelow...
Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow for winning the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. La Times puts into perspective the fact that the Best Director Oscar went to Kathryn Bigelow...
- 3/8/2010
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
The Hollywood Reporter announced that IFC Films has acquired North American rights to the Berlin International Film Fest title, Puzzle, directed by Natalia Smirnoff. The Argentine film will be released this year after the fall festival roundup via IFC's In Theaters platform--making the VOD version available the same day as the theatrical premiere.
Puzzle follows forty-something housewife Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) who has doted on her husband and children for the past twenty years. When she receives a puzzle as a birthday present, she suddenly discovers she has a gift for assembling them at lightning speed--something her family ignores. As her passion for puzzles grows, the bonds of her relationships are tested.
We can add this title to the long list of narrative films and documentaries that pay homage to the geeky hobbies and games many of us love. Puzzle takes its place alongside fictional films like Mazes and Monsters,...
Puzzle follows forty-something housewife Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) who has doted on her husband and children for the past twenty years. When she receives a puzzle as a birthday present, she suddenly discovers she has a gift for assembling them at lightning speed--something her family ignores. As her passion for puzzles grows, the bonds of her relationships are tested.
We can add this title to the long list of narrative films and documentaries that pay homage to the geeky hobbies and games many of us love. Puzzle takes its place alongside fictional films like Mazes and Monsters,...
- 2/22/2010
- by Alison Nastasi
- Cinematical
Berlin -- The Berlin International Film Festival is going indie for its 60th anniversary with new films from Michael Winterbottom, Noah Baumbach, Thomas Vinterberg and other independent filmmakers among this year's competition lineup.
Baumbach's comedy "Greenberg" starring Ben Stiller as a New Yorker house sitting for his brother in Los Angeles, will have its world premiere in Berlin as will Vinterberg's latest, "Submario," a Danish drama that sees the director of "The Celebration" returning to the treacherous landscape of familial relationships.
Winterbottom's Western thriller "The Killer Inside Me" starring Casey Affleck will head to Berlin after its world premiere in Sundance, one of several titles catching the Park City-Berlin express this year. These include "Howl," a drama from famed documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman centered on poet Allen Ginsberg's 1957 obscenity trial; Nicole Holofcener's comedy "Please Give" starring Catherine Keener and Amanda Peet and Lisa Cholodenko's "The Kids Are Alright.
Baumbach's comedy "Greenberg" starring Ben Stiller as a New Yorker house sitting for his brother in Los Angeles, will have its world premiere in Berlin as will Vinterberg's latest, "Submario," a Danish drama that sees the director of "The Celebration" returning to the treacherous landscape of familial relationships.
Winterbottom's Western thriller "The Killer Inside Me" starring Casey Affleck will head to Berlin after its world premiere in Sundance, one of several titles catching the Park City-Berlin express this year. These include "Howl," a drama from famed documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman centered on poet Allen Ginsberg's 1957 obscenity trial; Nicole Holofcener's comedy "Please Give" starring Catherine Keener and Amanda Peet and Lisa Cholodenko's "The Kids Are Alright.
- 1/20/2010
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
San Sebastian -- Sir Ian McKellen picked up the Donostia lifetime achievement award late Wednesday at the 57th San Sebastian International Film Festival, thanking the festival for recognizing his 50-year acting career, rather than just one performance.
"If I'm in competition, it's with myself alone," McKellen said, after receiving the statue from Spanish actor Josep Maria Pou.
Also Wednesday, Imanol Uribe received the first Zinemira award, newly created by the festival to reward a Basque filmmaker.
Spanish Film Academy president Alex de la Iglesia -- a native of the Basque region, where the festival is held on Spain's northern coast -- gave Uribe the award.
Elsewhere, Federico Veiroj's Uruguayan "La Vida Util," won the grand prize at the Films in Progress sidebar, securing post-production financing to a finished 35 mm copy of the film. Actor Daniel Hendler's directorial debut "Norberto Apenas Tarde," from Uruguay, won the Tve Award --...
"If I'm in competition, it's with myself alone," McKellen said, after receiving the statue from Spanish actor Josep Maria Pou.
Also Wednesday, Imanol Uribe received the first Zinemira award, newly created by the festival to reward a Basque filmmaker.
Spanish Film Academy president Alex de la Iglesia -- a native of the Basque region, where the festival is held on Spain's northern coast -- gave Uribe the award.
Elsewhere, Federico Veiroj's Uruguayan "La Vida Util," won the grand prize at the Films in Progress sidebar, securing post-production financing to a finished 35 mm copy of the film. Actor Daniel Hendler's directorial debut "Norberto Apenas Tarde," from Uruguay, won the Tve Award --...
- 9/24/2009
- by By Pamela Rolfe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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