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Post by Ace on Jul 2, 2009 11:29:58 GMT -5
www.kviff.com/en/news/1256-opening-and-closing-films-at-the-44th-karlovy-vary-iff/The 44th Karlovy Vary IFF will open with the international premiere of the new film The Greatest by Shana Feste. The calm suburban life of the well-situated Brewer family is unexpectedly turned upside-down by the shocking death of the elder son Bennett. Father, mother and younger brother try to cope with the sudden loss of a loved one, each in his or her own way. Then the voluntary isolation of their parallel worlds is disrupted by Bennett’s new girlfriend, who is determined to find out more about the young man with whom she shared a brief but fervid romance. Without slipping into superficial sentimentality, debut director Shana Feste has shot an unexpectedly mature study about coping with pain. Her intense psychological investigation under the seemingly idyllic surface of a middle-class family was inspired by Robert Redford’s Oscar-winning drama Ordinary People. The superb Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan as the parents meet their acting match in one of the most talented contemporary actresses, Brit Carey Mulligan.
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Post by Ace on Jul 2, 2009 11:59:11 GMT -5
www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_183070549.htmlPublished: July 02, 2009 Fest lineup has films from 30 countriesBy JODEE TAYLOR TRAVERSE CITY -- Documentaries "starring planet Earth," movies from Tehran, Texas and Norway, and short movies by budding filmmakers help make up the lineup of 121 movies at this year's Traverse City Film Festival. There are 71 features and 50 shorts on this year's schedule. The film festival runs July 28 through Aug. 2. For laughs, there are outtakes from Sacha Baron Cohen's latest, "BrÃ?no," presented by director Larry Charles; Patton Oswalt's comedy about a man's obsession with New York Giants (Oswalt is scheduled to be here); and a sneak preview of something being worked on by funnyman and film festival board member Jeff Garlin. "Roger and Me," the seminal documentary from film festival founder Michael Moore, gets a 20th anniversary treatment. The opening night movie will be "Troubled Water (De usynlige)" from Norway. "It's an almost perfect piece of filmmaking," said Moore, founder of the film festival, now in its fifth year. "It's the best drama I've seen this year." Tickets go on sale for Friends of the Film Festival July 12 at noon at the film festival office in Radio Center and July 18 to the general public. Tickets are $9; opening and closing night movies cost $25. A special section with the schedule and descriptions of the movies will be in Friday's Record-Eagle. The movies come from 30 countries and five continents, Moore said. Among the filmmakers who will be here for the new TCFF Film School, daily panels and question-and-answer sessions: Paul Mazursky, the focus of this year's tribute and director of such films as "Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice" and "Enemies: A Love Story"; Jim Czarnecki, who produced "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11"; and directors from France, Burma, Palestine, Israel, Norway and Iran, Moore said. "We hope to broker a peace agreement," he joked. The "Greetings from Tehran" section of the festival features two Iranian films: "About Elly," a film which starts as an innocent weekend on the Caspian Sea but turns mysterious when Elly disappears; and "Football Under Cover," a family film about a women's soccer team. "Palestine and Vine" features four Palestinian movies, including "Laila's Birthday," about a dad trying to keep his promise to bring a cake home for his daughter's birthday, and "Rachel," a documentary about Rachel Corrie, a 22-year-old American who was killed while trying to stop an Israeli bulldozer from demolishing Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip. Corrie's parents will be here for the screening, Moore said. Among the environmental films is "The Cove," winner of the Sundance Film Festival's Audience Award, which follows a group of activists as they document fishing practices that annually result in the deaths of thousands of dolphins. "The Garden," nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Documentary category, is about a community garden in south-central Los Angeles and "Food, Inc." delves into agribusiness. "People have been asking for that one," Moore said. "I like it, but I disagree with the film's conclusion. But I don't program this festival with what I agree with." The TCFF Kids Festival will feature a day of short films (ranging from one minute up to seven minutes); "Azur and Asmar," a French film in English about two drastically different boys raised by the same woman; "Sita Sings The Blues," a retelling of the Indian tale of Ramayana set to 1920s jazz; and "Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms," about a worm who gets hold of some old records and is inspired to start a band. "We're not going to raise another generation of film-lovers if we don't show them good movies," Moore said. Norway apparently is the new Sweden when it comes to making movies. Four Norwegian movies made the schedule, including the opening night film, a short film, and a Nazi zombie movie, "Dead Snow." Emily Kunstler, daughter of Chicago 8 defense lawyer William Kunstler, will be here to present her documentary about her father. Other documentaries include "Waltz With Bashir," the first animated film to be nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar, and "Learning Gravity," about Milford funeral director and poet Thomas Lynch. "Sugar," a movie about a baseball player's move from the Dominican Republic to the U.S., will be screened, as will "The Greatest," starring Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon as parents whose oldest son is killed, and "The Answer Man," starring Jeff Daniels as a reclusive author. "We were surprised by the lack of American independent films," Moore said. "The number of feature films, fiction films, was cut in half." He isn't sure if the economy is to blame or if there's a dumbing-down of American movie-goers. "The worst movie ever made ("Transformers 2") just had the second-best opening ever." But the "film literacy" of the local crowd has gone up, he said. "The audience here is pretty deep, smart, discerning," he said. "They're expecting to walk out of the theater having had a religious experience." Moore, who says he's about 75 percent done with editing his own movie, due out Oct. 2, didn't put the as-yet-unnamed documentary on the film festival schedule. There's still "Mike's Surprise," scheduled for the last night of the festival. "Maybe the surprise will be that they won't see my movie," Moore said.
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Post by Ace on Jul 20, 2009 12:34:48 GMT -5
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Post by Ace on Jul 20, 2009 12:55:42 GMT -5
Traverse City Film Fest Screens July 30 & August 2nd www.traversecityfilmfest.org/tixSYS/2009/xslguide/eventnote.php?notepg=1&EventNumber=1050The Greatest American Independent Cinema (USA, 2009, 99 mins) Midwest Premiere Directed By: Shana Feste Producer: Lynette Howell, Beau St. Clair Screenwriter: Shana Feste Cinematographer: John Bailey Editor: Cara Silverman Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, Johnny Simmons, Aaron Johnson, Michael Shannon Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan give two of their best performances ever as middle-aged parents whose lives are shattered when their oldest son is killed. Shortly after the funeral, Bennett's classmate Rose (Carey Mulligan) introduces herself and reveals that she's carrying their late son's baby. This honest look at pain, grief and healing will grab you immediately and carry you through to the other side. And we will hear a lot more about newcomer Carey Mulligan ("When Did You Last See Your Father," TCFF08), who is a revelation in her role as Rose. Sundance called this first feature from writer-director Shana Feste "one of the standout works" of their fest, and said it is "as fine a debut as we can present." We concur -- we love this film. In person: Shana Feste.
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Post by Ace on Jul 20, 2009 18:04:56 GMT -5
How To Get a Hollywood Star for Your Independent Film independent-magazine.org/magazine/07/2009/hollywoodstarAn interview with successful first-time director Shana Feste, whose film The Greatest screened at the 2009 dramatic film competition at Sundance. July 20th, 2009 | Joi R. Wheatley Sometimes you have to take 10 steps backward in order to move one giant step forward. That’s exactly what writer/director Shana Feste did with her directorial debut, The Greatest, a story that combines grief, pain, love and reveals the emotional suffering of a couple who tragically looses their teenage son in a car crash. The film, which stars Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan, screened in the dramatic competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Feste shares with The Independent the secret to her success as a first-time director and how she was able to land a star-studded cast and crew. Though her story does seem very Cinderella-esque, transitioning from nanny to director, it was not an overnight transformation but rather a little bit of luck coupled with perseverance. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘I have the same job that I’ve had since I was 15 years old. When am I going to throw in the towel? When am I going to say, enough is enough?’ I’m glad that I never gave into that temptation because finally, The Greatest was my seventh script and people really responded to it. I think the one thing that I did to make that transition was literally just becoming a better writer,” Feste said. Not only did she mature as a writer, Feste finally realized that producing was not her passion and that directing was really where she needed to be. After finishing the producing program at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, she instantly took a hands-on directing course with author Judith Weston. “I would take her class every Tuesday night and direct a new scene from my movie,” Feste said. “By the time that I had got on set to shoot The Greatest, I’d already directed 16 scenes from the movie, which definitely helped me because I knew the characters in a much deeper way. Judith was an incredible teacher for anyone who is trying to learn the craft of directing.” Other than AFI’s strenuous curriculum and classes with Weston, she also taught herself a few directing techniques from watching her favorite classic movies. “When I found out that I was going to direct this movie, I wanted to learn more about coverage. I would watch scenes from my favorite movies and take pictures of the scenes that I paused so that I could see how much coverage they did and where they’d put the camera,” confessed Feste. “I kind of just learned to do that on my own.” With an emotionally moving script and some newly acquired directing skills, Feste was ready to gather the team that would get her project off the ground. She is proud to say that it took less than a year to get the film produced. On her first script Love Easy, the prolonged process of looking for a suitable cast and searching for financial backers over five years became stressful and mentally challenging. Due to continuous disappointment with Love Easy, Feste decided to go back to the drawing board and create another body of work to keep multiple projects circulating. That’s when The Greatest was born. Feste said, “I think that the most important thing for a writer/director is to always have more than one project. If you only have one project, life is either incredible or terrible depending on the status of your project.” Within months of finishing the script, Feste had confirmed a superb crew to make her film come to life; producer, Lynette Howell (Half Nelson, The Passage) of Silverwood Films; producer, Beau St. Clair (The Thomas Crown Affair, Laws of Attraction) of Irish Dreamtime and cinematographer, John Bailey (He’s Just Not That Into You, Must Love Dogs). To top it all off, Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon were selected as the leading roles. Not only was Brosnan a part of the main cast; he came on board as an executive producer through his company Irish Dreamtime. “It was a combination of a lot of things that made [the film] work. I definitely think that it was the material. I felt like they [Brosnan and Sarandon] were both very passionate about the material. They are very rare actors. Most actors would never even work with a first-time director and most actors or agents wouldn’t even read the script. But Pierce and Susan are truly passionate actors that if they are moved by material, they’ll take risks with their careers. They’re incredibility brave,” Feste said. In addition, the humble yet fearless director confessed that she really did not write the main characters with a celebrity presence in mind. “I already knew in a way that [Brosnan and Sarandon] were kindred spirits. When they got on set, they were everything that I wanted them to be. So it made the process a lot easier. There was no ego; they were totally collaborative, incredibly generous, and never made me feel like I didn’t know what I was doing,” Feste admitted. Although, she was pushed to go after A-list talent to secure financing, she’s really glad that she was aggressive enough to land an all-star cast. “I felt like I had the absolute right cast. I felt like it was a really exciting cast. I was so excited to work with Carey Mulligan as well. People are calling her the next 'It' girl, whatever that means.” Feste could breathe again after reassuring herself that the cast was set. But now, it was time to shoot and direct. “Sometimes, we would shoot eight to nine pages per day. It was incredibly fast and hard. It was tough,” Feste recalled. The film was shot in 25 days, with a no re-shoots allowed since there was no room in the budget to do it. Feste remembers the staff’s dedication to making sure that this project was produced within the budget and in a timely manner. “I think the hardest part was learning as I went, because there was so much that I didn’t know and you tend to rely more on other people when you’re unsure of something. The best part about it, you get to collaborate with some really incredible, more experienced wonderful people. But the danger in that is sometimes you start to doubt your own instincts and it’s easier to doubt your own instincts,” she said. Yet, Feste had a very strong support system while making this movie, which ranged from her producers to the agents representing the talent. That same support system came in handy as Feste entered the dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival. “Sundance was incredible. It was like the scariest moment of my life,” said Feste. The Greatest was up against 11 other dramas; three which were directed by women as well. “It was kind of scary, thrilling and really emotional. But the best thing about screening at Sundance is the audience. They were so kind, so lovely, and so supportive.” And the lucky streak caught Feste once more as her movie was picked up for a distribution deal with Senator. The film is slotted to be shown on the silver screen by March 2010. Feste has proven that momentum, hard work, and the right contacts certainly pays off in the end. She also knows what is essential to attract the most renowned actor for an independent film. She understands that any filmmaker can get A-list talent for a project, however, the right formula is key and here are five tips that Feste believes will help: • Write Good Roles • Find The Right Producer (that has cast relationships) • Get Strong Agent Support • Have A Passion For Your Own Material • Write a First-Class Script -- “The script that you call, The One” “I think that for all of the people that might be reading this, the best advice that I can give is, keep writing. I followed that advice and it somehow got me where I am today,” said Fest
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Paola
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Post by Paola on Aug 19, 2009 1:39:59 GMT -5
Next wednesday, the 26th of August, on the Italian TV channel, Canale 5, there will be "The Greatest", italian title "Gli ostacoli del cuore". I didn't think it would be shown so soon and in television.
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Post by Ace on Aug 28, 2009 0:12:33 GMT -5
A shame it won't be shown in Italian theaters but far more people saw it on TV than would have in the theater. (almost 4 million - more than the biggest film in theaters last year and 2 1/2 times as many as saw Mamma Mia) www.sorrisi.com/2009/08/27/auditel-di-mercoledi-26-agosto-la-fiorentina-pareggia-anche-con-il-film-in-prima-tv-di-canale-5/Auditel Wednesday August 26: Il film drammatico «Gli ostacoli del cuore» , una prima tv assoluta di Canale 5 (non è ancora uscito nelle sale americane), è stato visto da 3.947.000 spettatori, pari al 22.6%di share . La pellicola con Susan Sarandon e Pierce Brosnan ha superato di poco la partita di calcio Fiorentina-Sporting Lisbona (4.029.000 spettatori, 21.73%), in onda su Raiuno, ma solo in share. ====================== The Drama "The obstacles of the heart", a first absolute tv channel 5 (not yet released in American theaters), has been seen by 3,947,000 viewers, equivalent to 22.6% share. Film with Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan has slightly exceeded the football match Fiorentina v Sporting Lisbon (4,029,000 viewers, 21.73%), broadcast on Raiuno, but only share. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paola, did you get to see it?
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Paola
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Post by Paola on Aug 31, 2009 12:29:18 GMT -5
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Post by greyowlette on Sept 3, 2009 12:31:15 GMT -5
Paola,
I'd been eagerly awaiting the showing of the film here in the U.S. and jumped at the chance to see it--even if in a foreign language. However, since I grew up in a household where parents and grandparents spoke Italian, I found I could understand most of what was being said.
The strangest thing was not hearing Pierce's own voice.
Grazie mille, Wilma
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Post by Ace on Sept 7, 2009 23:24:27 GMT -5
www.variety.com/article/VR1118008229.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=bd_filmGilliam pic closes Hamptons fest 'Parnassus' to premeire at festival October 11 Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," featuring the final perf by the late Heath Ledger, will have its U.S. preem at the 17th annual Hamptons Film Festival, closing the event on Oct. 11. Opening this year's edition on Oct. 8 will be Shana Feste's debut feature "The Greatest," starring Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan.Brian Koppelman and David Levien's pic "Solitary Man," starring Danny DeVito, Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Jesse Eisenberg and Jenna Fischer, will screen on Oct. 10 as the centerpiece film. Ledger had finished shooting only the "real world" scenes in Gilliam's fantasy film when he died on Jan. 22 of last year. In order to complete the movie, Gilliam enlisted Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to play Ledger's part -- one actor for each of the different worlds to which his character travels. Pic had its world preem at Cannes and will play at the Toronto Film Festival this month as well. The Hamptons fest runs Oct. 8-12.
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Paola
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Post by Paola on Sept 9, 2009 9:08:54 GMT -5
I'd been eagerly awaiting the showing of the film here in the U.S. and jumped at the chance to see it--even if in a foreign language. However, since I grew up in a household where parents and grandparents spoke Italian, I found I could understand most of what was being said. The strangest thing was not hearing Pierce's own voice. Grazie mille, Wilma You're welcome Wilma, I'm glad you were able to watch it. Italian is my language, but I've to admit I prefer listen Pierce own voice even if I cannot understand exactly everything he says.
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Post by Ace on Sept 9, 2009 15:38:49 GMT -5
www.hamptons.com/The-Arts/On-The-Screen/8936/The-17th-Annual-Hamptons-International-Film.htmlThe 17th Annual Hamptons International Film Scheduled For Columbus Day Weekend Opening, Centerpiece And Closing Festival Films Selected East Hampton - The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) announced their Opening, Centerpiece and Closing night films for the 2009 festival. Opening the festival is "The Greatest," the directorial debut by Shana Feste starring Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan, Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kravitz. It's the story of a family that's disintegrating as they deal with the death of their child and their surviving son's drug use. "The Greatest" explores the ways in which love can persist and life can re-assert itself in the face of seemingly all-consuming tragedy. The Centerpiece film is "Solitary Man," directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, starring Michael Douglas, with Danny DeVito, Susan Sarandon and Mary-Louise Parker, Jesse Eisenberg and Jenna Fisher. Douglas stars in this tale of a New York businessman experiencing a mid-life slump so severe that it is more catastrophe than crisis. Closing the festival is the U.S. premiere of "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," directed by Terry Gilliam and starring the late Heath Ledger, as well as Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell who stepped in to assume Ledger's role after he passed away during production. The film also stars Andrew Garfield, Christopher Plummer and Lily Cole. Doctor Parnassus is the proprietor of a traveling “Imaginarium" in which paying customers are invited to cross into a hallucinatory otherworld to uncover their true selves. Terry Gilliam gives free rein to his signature whimsicality in the Imaginarium's rich, cartoonish, constantly shifting landscape, and the adventurous film brims with affectionate nods to its late star, Heath Ledger. “We are so excited to feature Shana Feste's moving and unique film as the opener of our 17th edition" says Director of Programming David Nugent. “Pierce Brosnan, who does double duty in "The Greatest" as both star and producer, has delivered a stirring performance and we're delighted that he will be joining us for the festival." “We are proud to present "Solitary Man" as the festival's Centerpiece screening" continues Nugent “Produced by Steven Soderbergh, and featuring Michael Douglas in an eye opening performance, this is a film that is sure to be a hot ticket at this year's festival." “It is truly an honor to present the U.S. premiere of Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," say Executive Director Karen Arikian. “Heath Ledger was a terrific actor, and someone who all of us - industry and public alike held dearly as an artist. For the Hamptons to be the first festival in the U.S. to share his last film with our audiences is truly an honor." The 2009 Hamptons International Film Festival takes place Thursday to Monday, Oct. 8th through Oct. 12, which includes Columbus Day Weekend. About The Hamptons International Film Festival The Hamptons International Film Festival was founded to celebrate the Independent film - long, short, fiction and documentary - and to introduce a unique, varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers to the public. The Festival is committed to exhibiting films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives, with the hope that these programs will enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment for all. For more information about the Festival, and to become a member, please visit our website at www.hamptonsfilmfest.org. For more information contact Frank PR at 646-861-0843, or Lina Plath (lina@frankpublicity.com) and Clare Anne Darragh (clareanne@frankpublicity.com).
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Post by Ace on Sept 14, 2009 15:52:00 GMT -5
blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/09/14/brooklyns_finest_in_limbo/Overture Buys Brooklyn’s Finest; Senator Slate in FluxThompson on Hollywood Antoine Fuqua’s operatic cop drama Brooklyn Finest, starring Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke, debuted at Sundance in January and was instantly acquired by neophyte distrib Senator, whose CEO Marco Weber invested in a new cut of the film, seven minutes longer, which just screened at the Venice Film Festival. (Fuqua isn’t happy with that cut, which boasts a new ending, and wants to spend more time in the editing room.) Now Senator is under financial duress and several of its films, including Brooklyn’s Finest, are finding new homes. Senator did not fulfill all the delivery terms on the Brooklyn’s Finest deal, nor was it able to cover costs of music rights, which gave financeer Avi Lerner the wriggle room to withdraw the movie from Senator and set it up with Overture for North America instead, according to both Lerner and Overture CEO Chris McGurk, who are at the Toronto Film Festival. Lerner already has deals in place to release the film around the world. “It was a very painful situation,” says ex-William Morris Independent chief Cassian Elwes, who helped to resolve the impasse. “I really like Marco, so did Avi; we wanted it to work. He has a credit on the movie.” Meanwhile, Senator has shuttered its L.A. offices and Weber is nowhere to be found. (“He’s in Venezuela looking for funding,” reports one source.) Ex-ThinkFilm exec Mark Urman defected from Senator in June when the company lacked the requisite P & A funds he deemed necessary to properly release their slate. He and several of his former ThinkFilm execs are still owed money that Weber promised them. It’s deja vu all over again for the ThinkFilm refugees, who went through similar torture with ThinkFilm owner David Bergstein. “Senator bit off more than they could chew,” says one source close to the situation. “There was no there there. Marco does not have one toe of one foot on the ground.” Senator is trying to raise some P & A money with help from Canadian Jeff Sackman, who used to run ThinkFilm. And Sony Worldwide Acquisitions Group president Steven Bersch is still trying to keep some of his deals with Weber together. Already released is The Informers, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Mickey Rourke, which bombed. Senator titles in flux include Gregor Jordan’s timely ticking bomb thriller Unthinkable, starring Samuel L. Jackson, which has neither resolved its delivery terms nor its final cut and was once scheduled to open in October; two long-on-the-shelf films, Fireflies in the Garden, starring Julia Roberts, and horror title All the Boys Love Mandy Lane; and Splice, starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley and produced by Guillermo del Toro. Senator was supposed to have already released Public Enemy Number One, a French gangster pic starring Vincent Cassel scheduled to open in November, which premiered in Toronto last year, but its print is being held by a lab which has not been paid. “Senator is tapped out,” says one producer with a film in limbo who is also owed outstanding money. Urman set up his indie distribution company Paladin in July; he’s already lined up a slate and is in talks to take over another movie he acquired for Senator in January, Shana Feste’s The Greatest, produced by Lynnette Howell and starring Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon and An Education star Carey Mulligan. According to the Hamptons International Film Festival, Urman booked the film for the fest.It’s possible that Senator’s Weber will pull a rabbit out of a hat. But his chances of pulling out of this spiral of unfulfilled promises and debts appear unlikely.
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Post by SecondWind on Sept 22, 2009 13:13:59 GMT -5
Hi Paola! Thanks for sharing ;D I only recently noticed the links, but somehow they don't work for me. When I go to 4Shared each of the parts is only about 7 minutes. When I download them, each part is about 25 minutes, but the files don't work Could you check if there's anything wrong with the files ? Grazie! I learned Italian for only a year, so I believe I won't understand much anyway.
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Post by Ace on Sept 22, 2009 16:03:06 GMT -5
The files play fine. You might not have the needed codec installed on your video player. A great universal player is VLC and it plays these files. It's free and you can download it here: www.videolan.org/vlc/
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Post by steeleinc on Sept 23, 2009 10:19:57 GMT -5
They didn't work for me, either.
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Post by icy1979 on Sept 23, 2009 13:03:48 GMT -5
They didn't work for me, either. For me they do work. If you haven't done so yet, maybe installing a codec pack like K-Lite (http://k-lite-codec-pack.softonic.de/) helps!?
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Post by SecondWind on Sept 23, 2009 13:33:26 GMT -5
Thanks! I installed the codec and now the files work ;D
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Post by Ace on Sept 24, 2009 14:40:12 GMT -5
www.easthamptonstar.com/dnn/Arts/HIFF/tabid/10064/Default.aspxHamptons International Film Festival: Bigger, Better, and Leaner By Kate Maier (09/23/2009) The 17th annual Hamptons International Film Festival is just around the corner, with a host of changes and a stellar lineup of films, panel discussions and, of course, parties. For the first time, the festival’s organizers have chosen to have the event coincide with the Columbus Day weekend, and cinephiles who attend the opening night film on Oct. 7 will plunge headfirst into an emotional melodrama that sets the tone for the whirlwind weekend. “The opening night film is really strong,” said David Nugent, the programming director, about “The Greatest,” which examines a family’s relationships after the unexpected death of a son, and offers a stark contrast to last year’s lighthearted opening film, a quirky documentary about the fashion designer Valentino.
Both Mr. Nugent and Karen Arikian, the festival director, have been working in overdrive in the past few weeks, tying up loose ends and recruiting talent to make appearances over the big weekend. For the opening film, both the young director-screenwriter, Shana Feste, and the producer and star of the film, Pierce Brosnan, will be in attendance. “Desert Flower” On the opposite end of the spectrum, the whimsical Terry Gilliam film “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” is set to be the closing night film. If nothing else, it is sure to provide some serious eye candy. Originally starring Heath Ledger, the lead role was assumed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell after the actor’s death midway through shooting. Judging by Mr. Gilliam’s notorious reputation as the man behind the Monty Python movies, “The Fisher King,” and “Twelve Monkeys,” it is likely to be a festival favorite. In the film, “there’s a device in which one can walk through a mirror and see a sort of reflected alternate reality of their true self. When the actor or actress walks through the mirror, it changes their appearance,” said Mr. Nugent, accounting for how the four actors could conceivably play the same role. “It is very interesting, and handled very “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” well.” The movie, which morphed into a tribute to Mr. Ledger’s life during production, is one of a handful of films that appeared first in the Toronto International Film Festival, from which Mr. Nugent returned only last weekend. There, he picked up another film, “Young Victoria,” the closing night film at the Canadian festival. Last year, films that appeared in Toronto before being added to the Hamptons roster included “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Wrestler.” According to Mr. Nugent, who travels the world and handpicks movies, Toronto is where “we often pick up some of our biggest films.” Judging by ticket sales on Sunday, when the box office opened, Mr. Nugent said the festival’s centerpiece film, “Solitary Man,” starring Michael Douglas as a recently disgraced car salesman, will be another crowd pleaser. Aside from the plethora of films, Ms. Arikian has been busy this year cultivating relationships with other organizations that will play a role in the festival, as well as planning around longstanding festival favorites such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation series, now in its tenth year. With a $25,000 prize awarded to a director who accomplishes a compelling narrative with a focus on science, this year there is to be a tribute at Guild Hall, where snippets of the winning films from the past decade will be shown with special guests, including Alan Alda. “John Rabe” According to Ms. Arikian, Mr. Alda, who maintains a residence on the East End, “has been very much involved in science and film for some time. It’s a personal interest.” Mr. Alda is one of four stars who will participate in the “A Conversation With” series this year, along with Sharon Stone and Martin Bregman, the producer behind “Serpico,” “Scarface,” and “Carlito’s Way.” If anyone in East Hampton happens to run smack into Steve Buscemi while standing on line for coffee, not to worry, they have not wandered into the surreal landscape of “Fargo” or “Reservoir Dogs.” He will be in town to support two films he acted in, and also make an appearance in the conversation series. With tried and true programs continuing, including the Golden Starfish Awards, “View from Long Island,” and “Breakthrough Performers” series, Ms. Arikian said that a few new events are to debut this year as well. “This is the very first time during the festival we’re going to do a benefit for another foundation,” she said. “We’re screening a film called ‘8,’ ” which includes “eight short films made by very notable directors,” based on the eight millennium development goals set by the United Nations to be accomplished by 2015. Proceeds from the screening are to benefit the Maysha Foundation, set up by one of the filmmakers, Mira Nair, to benefit young people in Uganda who want to get into film. “Nigeria and India have very strong industries,” she commented, and Uganda could be next. Despite the fact that the year’s economic crisis caused Ms. Arikian to cut back on staff and devise other creative ways to save money, she said that the board of directors came through and she expects the festival to be one of the best to date. This year is the 75th anniversary of the New York Film Critics Circle, and four members of the group are to participate in a panel discussion about new media on Oct. 10. “Those things for me are very exciting and important, partnerships, collaboration, and working together in this very difficult year,” she said. “It has been a very tough year for everybody in so many different ways,” but the show will go on.
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Post by Ace on Sept 30, 2009 17:39:02 GMT -5
www.dohatribecafilm.com/film-program/event-details/item_400043.htmdearcinema.com/news/first-doha-tribeca-fest-open-nairs-amelia-837The inaugural Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF)announced today it will open with a special screening of director Mira Nair's“Amelia,” a thrilling account of legendary aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart starringtwo-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank and Golden Globe winner RichardGere. Organisers also revealed the 32 films that will comprise the rest of the Festival’sfilm slate. 12 of the films have roots in the Middle East and the rest are selected from the international festival circuit,from both emerging and established directors. The DTFF will run from October 29to November 1, 2009 in Doha, Qatar.The Greatest, directed and written by Shana Feste. (USA) – Middle Eastern Premiere. In The Greatest, director Shana Feste literally opens a door to welcome you home to a family of grief. When the Brewer’s son suddenly and unexpectedly dies, his mother, father, and brother all spiral into their own particular neurosis. Until, that is, the dead son’s girlfriend shows up and everything changes. Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan star as mother and father Brewer. In English with Arabic subtitles.
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