iW NEWS | Reygadas "Silent Light" Coming to Theaters

Carlos Reygadas's acclaimed "Silent Light" is headed for the U.S. with a theatrical debut at Film Forum in early '09. The film will open at the theater on January 7th. Also on tap for Film Forum in the first quarter of the new year are Terence Davies's "Of Time and the City" (Strand Releasing) on January 21st, Chiara Clemente's "Our City Dreams" on February 4th, Andrzej Wajda's "Katyn" (Koch Lorber Films) on February 18th, Nikita Mikhalkov's "12" (Sony Pictures Classics) on March 4th, Matt Tyrnauer's "Valentino: The Last Emperor" on March 18th, Sergey Dvortsevoy's "Tulpan" (Zeitgeist Films) on April 1st, Heddy Honigmann's "Oblivion" (Icarus Films), on April 15th, and So Yong Kim's "Treeless Mountain" on April 22nd. [Eugene Hernandez]  
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iW NEWS | Hammer To Nail Awards Laud Hammer, "Frownland"

Awards Watch coverage Presented by The Wrestler for your consideration.

The inaugural Hammer to Nail Awards, presented by contributors to Hammer To Nail, an organization created " to champion the most adventurous, ambitious, provocative, and exciting low-budget American narrative cinema of the very moment," were announced this past Friday. Honoring American narratives made for under one million dollars that either premiered or received some form of a theatrical release in 2008, awards included the Golden Hammer Award, given to director Lance Hammer for his work on "Ballast," the Silver Nail Award, given to "Prince of Broadway"'s Sean Baker, and the Best Film of 2008 Award, given to Ronald Bronstein's "Frownland." The awards also listed their top 13 films of 2008, which were in order: "Frownland," "Momma's Man," "Ballast," "Wendy and Lucy," "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," "Shotgun Stories," "Prince of Broadway," "Take Out," "The Pool," "Afterschool," "Glory at Sea," "Chop Shop" and "Medicine For Melancholy." For further explanation and detailed reasoning for choices, visit the organization's website. [Peter Knegt]  
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iW NEWS | "Panda" Scores 17 Annie Nods

Awards Watch coverage Presented by The Wrestler for your consideration.

Dreamworks' "Kung Fu Panda" led the International Animated Film Society's annual Annie Award nominations, taking 17. It doubled its nearest competitors, "Bolt" and "WALL-E," which managed 9 and 8, respectively. All three films will compete in the awards' Best Animated Feature category, alongside "$9.99" and "Waltz With Bashir." Three of "Panda"s nods came in the voice acting category, where Dustin Hoffman, James Hong and Ian McShane will compete against WALL-E himself, Ben Burtt and "Bolt"'s Mark Walton. "WALL-E"'s most notable snub came in the writing category, where "Panda," "Bashir," "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" and "Dr. Suess' Horton Hears A Who" will compete. This year's Winsor McCay recipients were announced as Mike Judge, John Lasseter and Nick Park for "career contributions to the art of animation." The Annie Awards will be held Friday, January 30 in Los Angeles. [Peter Knegt]  
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iW NEWS | European Film Awards Announce Presenters

Awards Watch coverage Presented by The Wrestler for your consideration.

The 21st European Film Awards have announced a line-up of actresses and actors who will present awards. They include Marianne Faithfull, Julia Jentsch, Paprika Stein, Andrzej Chyra, Mads Mikkelsen, Kim Rossi Stuart, and Santiago Segura. The music for the evening will come from Denmark's popular Dr Big Band under the artistic direction of Chris Minh Doky. The script for the event has been developed by Nick Roddick (UK) with Jens Krone and Oliver Zahle (both Danish). The awards will take place on December 6, 2008 at the Copenhagen Forum. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW ROUND UP | Monday, December 1

indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web.

Honor Just to Be Asked In, as Film Academy Tightens Its Ranks
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, once the chummiest club in show business, is becoming more artsy and indie-minded just as much of the Hollywood establishment hoped to make it more commercial. [NYT]

Stars shine for independent film
Entertainment reporter Alex Stanger joined the press pack on the red carpet for the British Independent Film Awards in London on Sunday. [BBC]

Gilmore Honor
Sundance's Geoff Gilmore to be honored by American Cinematheque. [VAR]

Bull Market Hollywood
Back to the Awards Season beat, David Carr takes the pulse. NYT

Paris gets world's first Cinema Street
The Forum des Images, as the cinematheque is called, is to reopen after three years of multi-million-euro renovations on Friday when Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe will officially rename an underground street the "Rue du Cinema". [AFP]

Indian film festival backtracks on 'banned' documentary
A documentary by a controversial Indian artist will be shown at the country's most prestigious film festival, despite a row with hardline Hindu nationalists. [AFP]

U.S. film deals still in place for shaken Bollywood
Spokespeople from most media companies with Indian interests said they simply are monitoring the situation at this stage. [HR]

 
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iW NEWS | "Manero" Leads Torino Fest Awards

Pablo Larrain's "Tony Manero" won best film at the 26th Torino Film Festival, which announced its juried awards this weekend. "Manero" also won the best actor award for its star, Alfredo Castro, and the Fipresci Award (International Film Critics Prize) for best film. Emmanuelle Devos won best actress for her role in Fien Troch's "Unspoken" ("Non-Dit"), while a special jury prize was awarded to Sean Baker's "Prince of Broadway." Bruno Oliviero's "Naples, Municipal Square" won the award for best Italian documentary, Fulvio Pepe's "A chie e gia morto a chi sta per morire" took best Italian short film, while the "Achille Valdata" Audience Award for best film went to Francisco Franco-Alba's "Quemar Las Naves." [Peter Knegt]  
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iW NEWS | here!, Regent Acquire "Sex"

Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms.

here! Films, the theatrical distribution and worldwide sales division of here! Networks, announced that it has acquired North American distribution rights to the documentary, "Sex Positive," from director Daryl Wein. The film explores the life of Richard Berkowitz, an AIDS activist in the 1980's, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe-sex practices has never been aptly credited. here! Films acquired this documentary from Ro*Co Films, and its sister company Regent Releasing will distribute the film starting March 13, 2009 in select U.S. cities. The film made its world premiere in competition at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival and went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest. "Daryl's insight into the life and work of Richard Berkowitz explores the explicit bravery of an unrecognized activist in an era of fear and uncertainty," said Regent's Mark Reinhart in a statement. "'Sex Positive' carries a vital message still today about an epidemic that's hitting American youth hard, as HIV rates have nearly doubled between 2001 and 2006." [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary, Queer Cinema ]

iW NEWS | "Milk" Takes Off At Box Office

Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical

On just 36 screens, Gus Van Sant's "Milk" found its way into the overall top ten Friday night, grossing $498,086. The Focus Features release has totaled $982,681 since opening last Wednesday. The film ranked #1 in most venues except the more commercial houses all three nights. It's highest grossing venue was San Francisco's Castro, where it grossed an astounding $41,074 Friday night and has totaled $109,440 since opening. Friday's other top venues included New York's Loews Village 7, where the film grossed $30,665, surprisingly topping Clearview Chelsea's $28,831. "The Village tends to play to a younger audience and these numbers suggest that word-of-mouth is working effectively with younger patrons," Focus' Adriene Bowles told indieWIRE. "Another strong indicator of this buzz with younger consumers is the sell-out late night shows across the country." For a full list of venue grosses, click here. For "Milk"'s weekend estimates as well as holiday grosses from other films, check back here tomorrow afternoon. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Sundance Doc Program Announces Grants

Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms.

Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program announced the 20 film projects awarded financial and creative support from the Sundance Documentary Fund. In a doubling of the numbers of projects submitted, nearly 800 filmmakers working in more than 70 countries submitted projects. The awardees include six first-time feature documentary filmmakers, complemented by national and international award winners. The Sundance Documentary Film Program supports U.S. and international documentary filmmakers "exploring the critical issues of our times in documentaries with cinematic potential." "The films funded in this round tell stories of perseverance and dignity in the face of our world's greatest contemporary challenges," said Cara Mertes, Director of the Sundance Documentary Film Program, in a statement. "From journalists and lawyers who take on international war criminals, to a small American town confronting its own homophobia, nonfiction storytellers are leading us down new paths as we search for common ground." For the full list of recipients, click here. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Lincoln Center Plans "Very Marty Holiday"

The Film Society of Lincoln Center rings in the New Year with a New York institution, Martin Scorsese. From December 26-31 at the Walter Reade Theater, the film series Scorsese Classics will bring 11 prominent titles by the director back to the big screen. Highlights include "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas," "Mean Streets," and a New Year's Eve screening of "New York, New York." For a complete listing visit the Center's website. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | Sundance Institute Expands Local Cinema Partnership

Sundance Institute announced the expansion of Sundance Institute Art House Project, a partnership with art house cinemas nationwide to build audiences and develop a supportive community of theatre owners committed to independent film. This year's Art House Project includes a specially-selected series of short films from the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, a film tour of Margaret Brown's "The Order of Myths," and a convergence of art house theatres from across the nation to be held January 13-15, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah. "We created the Art House project to go to the heart of where independent spirit lives all year," said John Cooper, Director of Programming, Sundance Film Festival, in a statement. "Our organizing principle is to increase the market for film exhibition by expanding the number and effectiveness of community-based, mission-driven theatres in local communities, large and small, nationwide." [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves, Park City ]

iW ROUND UP | Wednesday, November 26th

indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web.

Considering Raddon
"When Art, Sexuality and Religion Collide, What is the Role of a Film Festival?" asks AJ Schnack, noting, "a sense of the inevitable and the regrettable arriving together at once." [ATWT]

Gurus Oscar Picks
The annual Guru's o' Gold make Oscar predictions weekly. [MCN]

Two Times Reviews
A.O. Scott writes, "Milk" is a marvel. Manohla Dargis calls "Australia," "demented and generally diverting." [NYT]

"Bejing" Launches Maiden
Alan Zhang's "Waiting In Bejing" kicks off his new company, Red Maiden Entertainment. [HR]

Gay Actors?
"Why are there no openly gay leading men in Hollywood?" wonders [NYT]

 
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