6 Tips on Surviving as a Producer (SUNDANCE EXCLUSIVE)

This event is really one of the best at the festival. It's fun to preach to the choir, and know that, of all the audiences we could ever ask for, to speak about why we do what we do, and how, you guys will truly get it.  A producer friend told us a joke about what it’s like to be a producer: You throw an amazing party. You send out the invites, book the caterer, manage the guest list. And then, not only are you NOT invited, you are expected to pay the tab, and then clean up when everyone leaves!  Ok, so it's not all that bad, but there is a kernel of truth there.  It's not news that this is a super tough business filled with stress,...

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Sundance Docs 2016: The People Who Made and Lived Them [PHOTOS]

It takes a team to make a film. When that film is a documentary, it takes a very special kind of team.  Sometimes documentary subjects are elusive enigmas, hard-to-pin-down talent that aren't exactly willing participants. But there's something magical about seeing all the people behind a great doc in one place, especially when they're within hours of sharing their creation with the world for the first time.  That's exactly what happened at our Indiewire Portrait Studio at the Chase Sapphire Lounge here in Park City at the Sundance Film Festival. Below, you'll find a collection of photos featuring the men and women behind some of the most noteworthy documentary titles at this...

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Sundance: Wall Street Movie 'Equity' Starring Anna Gunn Was Made by Women for Women

Actress-producers Alysia Reiner ("Orange is the New Black") and Sarah Meghan Thomas ("Backwards") launched their company Broad Street Pictures a year and a half ago in order to produce thought-provoking films that employ more women in front of and behind the camera. Their first effort, suspenseful 100-minute Wall Street drama "Equity," in which they co-star with "Breaking Bad" lead Anna Gunn, was scooped up before its Sundance debut on January 26th by Sony Pictures Classics.  Their mandate was to "create content with strong roles for women," said Thomas, whose husband works in finance on Wall Street, where she was...

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'Birth Of A Nation' And Beyond: 25 Filmmakers & Actors That Rocked The 2016 Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival is headed into its final weekend, and while there’s more reviews and coverage to come, the biggest movies have all been unveiled, the dust has settled, and the first major event in the movie calendar is beginning to wrap up. And as is always the case, we leave Sundance with a long list of new names faces — actors and filmmakers alike — that we’ll be keeping an eye on moving forward. Perhaps more than any other major festival, Sundance always proves to be a fertile ground for the arrival of new talent — Jennifer Lawrence, Carey Mulligan, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Marielle Heller and new “Spider-Man” director Jon Watts are just a small fraction of those who...

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Art House Convergence: Why Critics Matter and Oscars Are So White

I attended my second Art House Convergence in a row, just before Sundance, as the brainy kids in the room, from theater owners and film festival programmers to indie distributors, assemble for panels, screenings and partying before heading to the more intense Sundance. Columbia U film czar and indie veteran Ira Deutchman, co-founder of Emerging Pictures, grilled me and Criticwire's Sam Adams on where film criticism is heading in our increasingly noisy film culture.  Ira Deutchman: How are film critics born? Sam Adams: You convince or con or trick someone into printing you for the first time. Once you get paid for it, you’re a professional. Basically, what you have is your skill and...

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EXCLUSIVE: Claudia Cardinale, Legendary Italian Actress, to Receive Dublin International Film Festival Award

Claudia Cardinale, the iconic Italian actress whose credits include several of the most revered films of the past six decades ("8 1/2," "The Leopard," "Once Upon a Time in the West," and "Fitzcarraldo," to name a few), will be in attendance to accept the Audi Dublin International Film Festival's Volta Award for lifetime achievement, along with fellow legend Dame Angela Lansbury. Among the festival's other highlights are opening night selection "Sing Street," from "Once" director John Carney, which made a crowd-pleasing splash at Sundance; closing night selection "Viva," Ireland's Spanish-language Oscar entry; and...

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Sundance 16: Doha Grant Recipient from Peru ‘When Two Worlds Collide’ Premieres in Park City

Heidi Brandenburg & Mathew Orzel’s "When Two Worlds Collide" (ISA: Film Sales Company) is the story of an indigenous Peruvian man and his people, and of the fate of one of our planet’s most valuable natural resources – the Amazon rain forest. The film, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January, is the first-ever Peruvian recipient of a grant from the Institute. It received a post-production grant from the Doha Film Institute following the Dubai International Film Festival in the fall of 2015. The grants program is dedicated to supporting new cinematic talent, with a focus on first- and second-time filmmakers. And, for...

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Sundance ’16: Lebanese Comedy ‘ç’ is a Hilarious Discovery from Razor Film

My major discovery -- though it may yet win the Audience Prize at Sundance in the World Dramatic Competition, is the new “Divorce, Italian Style”. Or as my friend Gary Meyer said, maybe it’s more like the great Norman Lear’s “Divorce, American Style”. “Divorce, Sharia Style” is actually entitled “Halal Love (and Sex)” and depicts four tragi-comic interconnected stories about devout Muslim men and women as they try to manage their love lives and desires without breaking any of their religion’s rules. “Halal Love (and Sex)” is hilarious and eye-opening, culturally open and sharing, and God knows, we all need a good laugh about what we spend 90% of our...

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Sundance 2016: Group Portraits from the Festival's Top Titles and More [PHOTOS]

In the chilly Park City environment, some people huddle together for warmth. But when that group is the cast and crew behind one of the notable films at the Sundance Film Festival, they might just be huddled together for a good-looking photo. Over this past weekend, we facilitated the latter as part of our annual Indiewire Portrait Studio at the Chase Sapphire Lounge. From highly-anticipated hits to under-the-radar breakouts, we gathered some of the festival's best talent under one roof. Visionary directors and stars from the indie realm and beyond, all coming together to celebrate their film's premieres. These collections also include producers, writers, cinematographers and a few...

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Sundance: Werner Herzog on His Movie About the Internet—Which He Hardly Uses (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

“My dream at Sundance to take off from the Olympic ramp on skis remains unfulfilled," Werner Herzog says of his doc "Lo and Behold"'s sale to Magnolia Pictures, "but I am even more exhilarated by the fact that my film now is taking flight through Magnolia." Waiting outside the Indiewire photo booth at Sundance for Herzog, his reputation precedes him. Viggo Mortensen, about to do a panel for "Captain Fantastic," is eager to meet him, and introduces the wind-blown filmmaker to all his screen children. We repair to a quieter room at the Chase Sapphire Lounge, but are eventually driven out by the noise.  The film features ten conversations with Herzog...

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'Dheepan,' 'Disorder' and More Headline 2016 Rendez-Vous with French Cinema Lineup

The Film Society of Lincoln Center and UniFrance have announced the official lineup for the 21st edition of Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, the annual showcase of the best in contemporary French film. This year's event runs March 3-13 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The lineup, which consists of 21 feature films making their New York, U.S., or North American premieres, proves just how essential, challenging and inspiring French cinema continues to be. READ MORE: Cannes Review: Jacques Audiard's 'Dheepan' Is An Excellent, Searing & Compassionate Drama "We are extremely pleased to continue our 21-year partnership with UniFrance to bring a brilliant selection of French...

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Sundance: Rebecca Hall Astonishes in the Otherwise Cold 'Christine' (Review Roundup)

Rebecca Hall stars as an ambitious TV reporter in 1970s Sarasota in "Christine," written by Craig Shilowich and directed by Antonio Campos ("Simon Killer," "Afterschool"). The film, which debuted in the the U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance to cautiously positive reviews, follows Christine through the final months of her life, as social isolation and professional frustration (including her station's shift toward sensationalism) precede her shocking demise. Though it boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Michael C. Hall ("Dexter") as Christine's co-anchor, Maria Dizzia ("Orange is the New Black") as a camerawoman, and...

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Sundance: Truth Battles Fiction in Amazon Pickup 'Author,' Starring Laura Albert, the Real JT LeRoy

I sat in the Amazon Studios row at the Park City Library with execs Roy Price, Ted Hope and the Amazon team, who are finalizing a deal to acquire their first documentary pickup, "Author: The JT Leroy Story." Backed by A&E IndieFilms, Brett Ratner’s RatPac Documentary Films and Vice, writer-director Jeff Feuerzeig's documentary weaves in and out of the mind of novelist Laura Albert, who finally steps forward to explain why she created several alternate personas, including novelist JT (Jeremiah Terminator) LeRoy. Marie Therese Guirgis, Head of Documentary at Ratpac Entertainment, read Feuerzeig's project proposal two years ago, "one of the...

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Seed&Spark's Emily Best on #OscarsSoWhite and Empowering Audiences: "It's time to start listening"

Seed&Spark CEO and founder and Indiewire influencer Emily Best delivered the closing keynote address at Art House Convergence on January 21, during which she announced the company's expansion into distribution with L.A. Film Festival favorite "I Am Thalente." Read highlights from Best's speech below. READ MORE: "EXCLUSIVE: Film Crowdfunding Platform Seed&Spark Launches Distribution Arm" I believe my work at Seed&Spark dovetails nicely with the future of the arthouse cinema. My team and I are dedicated to two core values that I believe, increasingly, must influence theater programming if we want to show great films to big...

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Cine Las Americas International Film Festival Brings the Region's Industries Together in Austin

Cine Las Americas, a multicultural non-profit organization dedicated to promote the cinema of the region, is inviting filmmakers, producers and distributors to participate in the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, now in its nineteenth consecutive year. The festival showcases contemporary films and videos from Latin America (North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean) and the Iberian Peninsula. Films and videos made by and/or about Latino/as in the U.S. or the rest of the world, as well as films and videos by and/or about indigenous groups of the Americas are also invited to participate. Regular deadline:...

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Why the Palm Springs International Film Festival is a Plentiful Oasis for Latin American Cinema

Anyone that has attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival has surely noticed the rather specific demographic - both in background and age - that makes up the audiences that night after night fill up the screenings. While audiences of color and from a wide age range live in this small town, which has managed to put together an important regional festival for nearly three decades, they don’t seem to have incorporated into the film festival experience. The assumption that the festival is only for those with a higher income, prominent educational backgrounds, or industry connections, might deter local audiences, to whom the festival should aim, from attending. ...

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Sundance Review: Todd Solondz's 'Wiener-Dog' Starring Greta Gerwig, Danny DeVito & Julie Delpy

Todd Solondz has been making movies since 1989, and became the toast of Sundance and American art-houses with just his second film, 1995’s “Welcome to the Dollhouse.” But the writer-director hasn’t really been all that prolific throughout his career, producing only eight features in just over a quarter-century. In part that’s due to the ups and downs of the indie film market. It’s also because it takes time to come up with something unlike what any other filmmaker could or would do. That’s a big reason why each new Solondz project attracts all-star casts, even though everyone who signs on to them has to know up-front that their commercial prospects are close to nil. Who could turn down the...

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Berlinale Adds 'Better Call Saul,' TV Series from Nick Hornby and Susanne Bier, to 2016 Lineup

The second season of "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" (AMC) and new TV series from writer Nick Hornby (Oscar-nominated for "Brooklyn") and director Susanne Bier ("In a Better World") highlight the 66th Berlin International Film Festival's Special Series lineup. The festival runs from February 11 - 21.   READ MORE: "WATCH: 'Brooklyn' Writer, Oscar Contender Nick Hornby on Penning a Swooning, Old-Fashioned Romance"  Bier's adaptation of John le Carré’s spy thriller, "The Night Manager" (AMC), which airs stateside in April, stars Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Laurie; Hornby's "Love,...

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'Better Call Saul' Season 2 Joins 2016 Berlinale Special Series

READ MORE: Greta Gerwig-Starring 'Maggie's Plan' Leads 2016 Berlin International Film Festival Panorama Lineup The 2016 Berlin International Film Festival is inviting series from Denmark, Britain, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. to finish off this year's Berlinale Special program. The section is designed to put a spotlight on the creativity and variety of forms evident in television series production. "As we were reviewing this year’s submissions, we once again noticed how their makers embraced experimentation," said Festival director Dieter Kosslick. "They use the series format for expeditions into new narrative and visual forms in every genre,...

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The Horizon Award To Recognize Four Women Directors at Sundance 2016

Continuing their support for women directors, Horizon Award co-founding producers Cassian Elwes, Lynette Howell Taylor, and Christine Vachon, announced the winners of the second annual Horizon Award. Academy Award nominee Chloë Sevigny will bestow up-and-coming filmmakers Macarena Gaona, Juliette Gosselin, Shanice Malakai Johnson, and Florence Pelletier with the Horizon Award at a reception in Park City, Utah, with creative talent, producers, entertainment executives and media in attendance to celebrate these rising women directors and their achievements in independent filmmaking. The Horizon Award ceremony and reception will take place on Sunday, January...

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Sundance Deal: Amazon Pickup 'Love and Friendship' Goes to Roadside for Release in Theaters

Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions are reteaming on the release of Whit Stillman’s Jane Austen-romance “Love and Friendship" starring his "Last Days of Disco" stars Kate Beckinsale and Choe Sevigne. Amazon acquired the rights long before Sundance's Saturday debut, a sign of a seller's market. Roadside handled the theatrical release of Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq."  They'll follow the same playbook on this adaptation of an unpublished Jane Austen novel. Release the film in theaters, then stream online a month later. Both Amazon and Netflix have picked up titles ahead of Sundance: Netflix nabbed Iranian horror film “Under the Shadow” and comedy...

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German Films at Sundance 2016

Germany is well represented at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival with films by both debutants and returning filmmakers. Scattered around the festival's program, German films are among the most daring productions and co-productions that will premier this week in Park City to eager audiences. Here is a list of German films at Sundance this year: German Productions World Cinema Dramatic Competition "Wild" by Nicolette Krebitz Producer: Heimatfilm World sales: The Match Factory Press contact: Required Viewing, Steven Raphael US Dramatic Competition "Morris from America" by Chad Hartigan (DE/US) German producers: Lichtblick...

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Critic's Notebook: Here's Why You Should Care About the Sundance Film Festival

READ MORE: The 2016 Indiewire Sundance Bible: All the Reviews, Interviews and News Posted During The Festival In a 1998 episode of "South Park," an animated Robert Redford grows tired of holding the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and sets up shop in the show's small town Colorado setting instead. Addressing locals, he announces plans to demolish the local library and build a "Hollywood Planet" restaurant in its place. "Can they do that?" asks one local. "They're Hollywood," the mayor replies, "they can do anything." In the years since that parodic assessment, the idea of Sundance as a commercial platform in arthouse clothing has...

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Sundance Programmers Flag Some Festival Must-Sees

When choosing Thursday's opening night features in Park City, Utah —World Cinema's "Belgica" (Felix van Groeningen), comedy writer-director Chris Kelly’s semi-autobiographical "Other People" and Kevin Macdonald's documentary "Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo­-Qiang" —Sundance director John Cooper and chief programmer Trevor Groth were looking for diverse movies that would "inspire inspire and excite audiences, that were different," Cooper told Indiewire.  READ MORE: The Best Things Robert Redford Said on the Opening Day of Sundance 2016 The programmers work long and hard figuring out which sections to place the films each year. And always,...

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Berlinale 2016's Complete Competition Lineup Announced: Only 9% Directed By Women

The 2016 Berlin Film Festival has released its full competition lineup. Now that we can take stock of all the directors screening films in the festival's most prominent category, we must report that very few women will be competing for the prestigious Golden Bear. Of 23 films up for the top honor, a mere two are directed by women, amounting to just under 9% of the slate: "24 Weeks" by Anne Zohra Berrached and "Things to Come" by Mia Hansen-Løve. Last year, female helmers accounted for 16% of the fest's highest-profile section.  The festival has also announced more information about its Gala, Special and Panorama...

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Guillermo del Toro's 'Crimson Peak' to Open Ebertfest 2016

The 18th edition of Roger Ebert's Film Festival, commonly (and affectionately) known as Ebertfest, will open with Guillermo del Toro's Gothic romance/horror hybrid, "Crimson Peak," starring Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, and Jessica Chastain. This year's festival runs from April 13 - 17 in Champaign, Ill. WATCH: "How Cannes and 'Crimson Peak' Changed Guillermo del Toro's Life" Taking place in the late film critic's home town, and now overseen by his wife, Chaz, and festival director Nate Kohn, Ebertfest is designed to "champion films that deserve a closer look," and "Crimson Peak"—which failed to find a sizable audience, earning only $31 million...

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Is Film Piracy Hurting Sundance Filmmakers? This Eye-Opening Infographic Has the Answer

READ MORE: Sundance 2015 Infographic: Most Festival Films Will Land Distribution Deals The annual Sundance infographic is back to shed some light into how the films from last year's festival performed over the past 12 months, and many of the statistics reveal disheartening information. One notable highlight rapidly occurring in the film industry is the fact that while many feature films get picked up for distribution, they will ultimately fail to see a significant financial return. Could this statistic be attributed to piracy?  The infographic includes the cost of illegally downloading previous Sundance features this year. The graph includes Oscar winners and nominees like...

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New Directors/New Films Highlights Festival Favorites, Including Sundance Debut 'The Fits'

Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and Fantastic Fest titles lead the first wave of official selections for the 2016 edition of New Directors/New Films, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art. Now in its 45th year, the festival has in recent years brought well-deserved attention to innovative works by the likes of Shane Carruth, Marielle Heller, Jennifer Kent, Joshua Oppenheimer, Sarah Polley, Dee Rees, and Justin Simien, among others. READ MORE: "Sundance Programmers Unveil, Discuss 2016 Competition, NEXT Lineups (EXCLUSIVE)"  The eight initial selections—with the rest of the festival's slate to be announced in February—include...

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Berlinale Completes Competition Lineup, Adds Spike Lee's 'Chi-Raq'

Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq" will screen out of competition at the 2016 Berlinale (its international premiere), the festival announced Wednesday—one day after the filmmaker made headlines with an open letter criticizing the Academy's "Lilly White" Oscar nominees. Other out-of-competition titles added to the Berlinale's lineup include films by Dominik Moll, Lee Tamahori, and Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern ("Saint Amour," starring Gérard Depardieu). READ: "Spike Lee's Open Letter Promising to Boycott the Oscars: 'We Can't Act?! WTF?!'" The festival also rounded out its list of films in competition, with new additions from...

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2016 Berlinale Completes Competition Program With Spike Lee's 'Chi-Raq' and More

READ MORE: Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' Leads 2016 Berlin International Film Festival Competition Lineup The 2016 Berlin Film Festival is putting the final touches on its slate by announcing the remaining titles that will play in this year's Competition section. 18 of the 23 films playing the Competition program will be vying for the Golden and Silver Bears at the festival's Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 19, while 19 of the films will be having their world premieres.  The most high profile last entry to join Competition films like the Coen Brothers' "Hail, Caesar!" and Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special" is Spike Lee's blazing political satire...

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Berlinale Unveils 44 Forum Titles, with Focus on Filmmakers from the Arab World

The 46th Berlinale Forum will feature 44 films, including 34 world premieres, with a timely focus on films and filmmakers from the Arab World. Among these is Syrian-American director Avo Kaprealian's "Manazil bela abwab" ("Houses without Doors"), featuring clashes on the streets of Aleppo filmed from the window of his housing block over the course of several years.  READ MORE: "Terence Davies' Emily Dickinson Biopic, 'A Quiet Passion,' to Premiere in Berlin" The three American independents in the Forum, which has a distinct international flavor, are "Kate Plays Christine," another test of the boundaries of nonfiction from...

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San Sebastian International Film Festival is Now Accepting Submissions for its 64th

Films can now be submitted for pre-selection to participate in the 64th edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival. All films submitted will be considered for all of the sections making up the festival's program, with the exception of Films in Progress and the International Film Students Meeting, which will have their own specific calls for submissions in the months of May and June respectively. Films for these sections should NOT be submitted to the festival yet. Feature films submitted for pre-selection will be accepted until 18 July 2016. The 64th edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival will take place September 16-24 ...

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Napa Valley Film Festival Announces 2016 Call for Entries

The 6th Annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) taking place November 9 - 13, 2016 is now accepting film submissions. NVFF showcases an outstanding presentation of independent filmmaking while also building a strong sense of community around the art of visual storytelling. The ultimate celebration of the best films and engaging filmmakers, accompanied by Napa Valley’s world-class food, wine and hospitality, NVFF is a five-day immersive experience that annually lights up the gloriously scenic towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. NVFF welcomes submissions of any genre and will be selecting approximately 100 new independent films to be programmed...

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Terence Davies' Emily Dickinson Biopic, 'A Quiet Passion,' to Premiere in Berlin

"A Quiet Passion," Terence Davies' portrait of the reclusive American poet Emily Dickinson, starring Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Ehle, and Keith Carradine, will debut out of competition at next month's Berlinale, one of eight films to be presented in the festival's Special section. Among the others are Michael Moore's latest, "Where to Invade Next," and the international premiere of Don Cheadle's feature directorial debut, Miles Davis biopic "Miles Ahead."  READ MORE: "First Look: Cynthia Nixon as Emily Dickinson in Terence Davies' 'A Quiet Passion'" This year's Berlinale Special, which presents recent works by contemporary filmmakers,...

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Jews in the News: Washington Jewish Film Festival Announces 2016 Line-Up

Now in its 26th year, Washington Jewish Film Festival (February 24 – March 6) explores gender, migration, the supernatural, Arab citizens of Israel, artists’ lives, and LGBTQ themes. In addition to the groundbreaking lineup of films, the Festival will host talkbacks and panel discussions with over 50 domestic and international filmmaker guests. The Festival is one of the region’s preeminent showcases for international and independent cinema. A project of the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center (DCJCC), the Washington Jewish Film Festival (WJFF) is the largest Jewish cultural event in the greater...

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Exclusive: Slamdance is Coming to Hollywood With Mind-Bending Meta Film 'Director's Cut'

READ MORE: Slamdance 2016 Reveals Special Screenings, Beyond Features and Short Film Competitions The Slamdance Film Festival will open with the special screening of "Director's Cut," a cinematic first that showcases a movie-within-a-movie that is half narrative thriller, half docu-mental-case. But for Los Angeles moviegoers unable to make it to Park City, Utah for the festival, Slamdance will be bringing the movie straight to the ArcLight in Hollywood for a special screening. "Director's Cut" follows a cinephile stalker who kidnaps his favorite actress and forces her to act in his homemade movie. The film stars Missi Pyle, Penn Jillette, Harry Hamlin and Hayes...

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Meryl Streep to Lead Master Class at Berlinale 2016

Meryl Streep will host a master class with 300 emerging film professionals at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival.  Participants were chosen from a pool of more than 2,700 applicants. They will also take part in other workshops and master classes as part of the Berlinale Talents program.  Streep's event will take place on February 14.  The three-time Oscar winner will also serve as president of the awards jury this year in her first time out as a film festival juror. The actress received a lifetime achievement award from the Berlinale in 2012.  This year's festival will run February 11-21.  [via THR]

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Berlin Panorama Adds Films by James Schamus, Ira Sachs; 'Carol' Producer Christine Vachon to Receive Award

Former Focus Features CEO James Schamus' directorial debut, "Indignation"—which premieres at Sundance later this month—is among the new additions to the Berlinale's Panorama section. Also heading from to Berlin after bowing in Park City are Ira Sachs' "Little Men," with Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle, and Andrew Neel and David Gordon Green's Sundance competition title "Goat," starring Nick Jonas.  READ MORE: "Sundance Adds New Films by Werner Herzog, Kenneth Lonergan, Kelly Reichardt, and Others to 2016 Slate" Flying under the radar is the documentary "Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures," from Fenton Bailey and Michael Barbato...

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Athena Film Festival Honors Women in Entertainment with 'Suffragette,' 'Mustang,' and Mira Nair

The sixth edition of the Athena Film Festival, created to celebrate women in entertainment and highlight films that focus on stories of women's courage, power, and influence, will feature Sarah Gavron's "Suffragette" as its Centerpiece Film. Two documentaries directed by women, Dawn Porter's "Trapped" and Lesley Chilcott's "Codegirl," will open and close the festival, respectively.  Among the other notable inclusions are Oscar-shortlisted foreign-language title "Mustang," "Testament of Youth," starring Alicia Vikander, and Davis Guggenheim's "He Named Me Malala." In addition, the festival will include a master class on...

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Athena Film Festival's 2016 Lineup Released; Dawn Porter's 'Trapped' Will Open Fest

Remember when "Room," "Carol" and "Brooklyn" were in the Oscar conversation?* This award season -- like most award seasons -- has been another chilly winter mostly dedicated to discussing films by and about white dudes. (*Thanks to Forbes' Scott Mendelsohn for reminding us of the glory days of last fall.)  So let's change the conversation to movies about girls and women doing great things. The sixth Athena Film Festival has announced its exciting 2016 lineup, which includes Dawn Porter's fest opener "Trapped," an exposé of the challenges to reproductive rights in a post-Roe v. Wade world, as well as a slew of...

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2016 Athena Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Including 'Mustang,' 'Suffragette' and More

READ MORE: Attention, Female Screenwriters: Athena Film Festival to Partner with Black List for Writing Lab The Athena Film Festival, which celebrates all things women and leadership, has announced its full 2016 slate, including narratives, documentaries and short films. The festival "honors extraordinary women in the entertainment industry and spotlights films that showcase women’s courage, power and influence in real life and the fictional world." This year's festival takes place February 18-21 at Barnard College in New York.  "This unique festival showcases the stories of courageous and audacious women who are making a difference in their lives and...

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Santa Barbara International Film Festival Slate Features U.S. Premiere of Malick's 'Knight of Cups,' Much More

Centerpiece Film "Knight of Cups," from director Terrence Malick, is among the highlights of the 2016 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, to be held February 3 to February 13. This year's festival, the 31st, features more than 207 films, including several titles shortlisted for the Foreign-Language Oscar, such as Golden Globe winner "Son of Saul."   WATCH: "In New Trailer for Terrence Malick's Meandering 'Knight of Cups,' Christian Bale Floats Through Hollywood" The festival opens with the U.S. premiere of animated film "The Little Prince," loosely based on the tale by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and featuring voice work...

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Google Initiative on Gender & Race Leads New Highlights at 33rd Miami International Film Festival

A unique partnership with Google on a new seminar series addressing gender and racial gaps in the film industry, particularly in technical cinematographic roles, is among new highlights unveiled today by Miami Dade College's Miami International Film Festival, as Festival organizers count down to the 33rd edition of the acclaimed annual event March 4 - 13, 2016. The Festival is the only major film festival produced and presented worldwide by a college or university. "Google has changed the world of technology and information in swift and radical ways," noted the Festival’s Executive Director & Director of Programming Jaie Laplante. "Who...

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GLAS Animation Festival Update: Official Competition Selections Announced

The GLAS Animation Festival is on its way.  After receiving over 1400 submissions the fest has announce the 65 Official Competition Selections. Categories include Narrative, Non-Narrative, Graduate, Undergraduate, and Commissioned Shorts.  In the coming weeks more additions to our special programs lineup as well as the selections for Children's Competition, US Competition, and International Showcase. Take a look at the GLAS Website for information about Official Selections, and more. The GLAS Animation Festival takes place in Berkely Califiornia on March 3rd through 6th, 2016.     Narrative Competition PERIPHERIA - David Coquard...

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The American Independents in Berlin Stand Will Serve as Hub for U.S. Industry and Filmmakers

The American Independents in Berlin will showcase over 50 films through “IFP Selects” and “Sundance at EFM” Market Screenings, with the objective of highlighting new American work to buyers, distributors, and festival programmers, as well as provide support services to American filmmakers, companies, and organizations attending the Berlinale. American Independents in Berlin will be presented in partnership with the European Film Market. Added tot his, daily conversations and networking mixers taking place at the American Independents stand will be open to all EFM attendees. The American Independents in Berlin stand at the EFM will serve as a hub and “home office” to...

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Sundance 2016: The Germans Are On the Move

In preparation for Sundance and Berlin, Beta has picked up worldwide rights to the Israeli feature in World Cinema Dramatic Competition Sundance, “Sand Storm” and Global Screen has picked up worldwide rights to the Colombian feature “Between Sand and Sea” (“La Ciénaga”) By the producers of Venice Public Choice Award-winning “The Farewell Party”, “Sand Storm” is an Israeli drama, shot in Arabic by debut-writer/director Elite Zexer. It will have its World Premiere at Sundance on January 25 and the European premiere to follow at the Berlinale Panorama section in February. “Sand Storm” is the second partnership between Beta Cinema and the Israeli 2-Team...

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Berlinale Adds 9 Titles to Competition Slate, Including Films by Lav Diaz, Thomas Vinterberg, Mia Hansen-Løve

New films from Lav Diaz ("Norte, The End of History"), Thomas Vinterberg ("Far from the Madding Crowd"), and Mia Mia Hansen-Løve ("Eden") are among the highlights of the nine titles added to the 2016 Berlinale Competition, joining five previously announced films—including Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special," Alex Gibney's "Zero Days," and Michael Grandage's "Genius." READ MORE: "First Look: Colin Firth and Jude Law Channel Literary 'Genius' in Berlinale World Premiere"   The international list, with films from Iran and Philippines/Singapore in addition to several from across Europe, mixes narrative...

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Watch: Mexican Sex Workers 'Hide from Society' in Sundance Competition Doc 'Plaza de la Soledad' (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

In this first-look clip from Maya Goded's "Plaza de la Soledad," two aging sex workers in Mexico City face the demands of the world's oldest profession—plucking, primping, and squeezing into skin-tight dresses—while finding love in each other, even if it means not being able to hold hands in the street. The film premieres in competition at Sundance later this month. READ MORE: "Sundance Programmers Unveil, Discuss 2016 Competition, NEXT Lineups (EXCLUSIVE)"  After more than 20 years of observation, conversation, and friendship among sex workers in the La Merced, the city's most dangerous neighborhood, Goded’s feature-length debut in rooted in intimacy and trust...

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Thomas Vinterberg's 'The Commune' and Eight More Films Added to Berlinale Competition 2016

READ MORE: Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' Leads 2016 Berlin International Film Festival Competition Lineup The 66th Berlin International Film Festival has announced nine more titles that will bow in the Competition program, bringing the total number of films in the category up to 15. To date, the Competition selection includes productions from 15 different countries, including Denmark, France, Iran, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, United Kingdom and the U.S. The festival takes place February 11-20. Leading the latest batch of titles is Thomas Vinterberg's "The Commune," which represents a change of pace from his lush adaptation of Thomas Hardy's "Far From the...

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Berlin Film Fest Adds New Films By Mia Hansen-Love, Thomas Vinterberg, André Téchiné, Lav Diaz & More

While we reel with the idea of a world without David Bowie, nine new films have been added to the Competition of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. That’s 15 film in competition so far. New titles of note include Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Things To Come,” starring Isabelle Huppert, Thomas Vinterberg’s latest, “The Commune,” Lav Diaz’s “A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery,” André Téchiné’s “Being 17,” and Foreign Film Oscar winner Danis Tanović’s “Death in Sarajevo.” To date, the selection includes productions from the following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland,...

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