Cynematik on IndieWIRE

Festival 2008 is full under sail and the acquisitions have begun. Given the Writer's Strike and the possibility of a future with limited purchase options, there is some expectation that the mini-major studios and distributors such as Sony Pictures Classics, Magnolia Pictures and IFC Films will heat up the buying at the festival.

UP THE YANGTZE was the first acquisition announced at the festival. The Three Gorges Dam, an enormous and hotly contested symbol of the Chinese economic development, provides the backdrop for the film. Beautifully shot and edited, the film tells Yu Shui’s story. Among the two million losing their livelihood to the dam, the Yu family must send their daughter off to work.

HBO Documentary Films said it picked up THE BLACK LIST: VOLUME ONE. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders directed the movie which features interviews with black cultural figures and icons ranging from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Sean Combs to Colin Powell.

Of great personal interest to me is U2 3D. The film is a feature-length compilation of U2 concert footage shot using a new generation of digital 3D cinema technology in which the blue and red cardboard glasses of the earlier 3D films have been replaced by sleeker polarized black glasses. The film’s technology is the work of two companies: Burbank-based 3ality and Beverly Hills-based Real D. At the Sundance premiere, the film will be shown in Dolby 3D Digital Cinema.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on January 18, 2008 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Readers of this blog know that I started attending Sundance in 1996. Because of that, I have an extensive archive of Sundance Podcasts and Videocasts. To get yourself in the Sundance spirit, you might want to check out some of the past panel discussion and Q&A's.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on January 13, 2008 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

As we complete the Zambian feature and documentary, we too are looking at distribution. According to RISKY BUSINESS, the book by Mark Litwak on indie financing and distribution, the three things that make a film more appealing to a distributor are ...

• STAR POWER ... participation by recognized industry creatives


• FESTIVAL FEVER ... selection in a key festival


• GREAT REVIEWS ... recognition by film critics

According to Litwak, there are between 800 and 1000 indie films available for sale at any given moment. So your film is competing with a glut of product. Presenting the strong selling points of your films is the key to distribution. Oh sure, there are tons of panels, books and articles on the many potential distribution avenues ... including the web, DVD, tape and international markets. So, I spent most of the day, recalling our Zambian production adventures and trying to think of why that might be interesting to a potential audience (and therefore a distributor).

Because of the scenes she was editing, Pamela Jo kept reminding me how grumpy I had been on certain shooting days ... oh the hours and hours and hours we waited ... and while the clock ticked, I kept wondering if we'd ever get the film done. Knowing our return flights had already been booked, the clock reverberated like a prescient death knell. To this day, it amazes me that we finished shooting both films. The next few months will reveal if the story is of interest to an audience. We will document the process for you indie filmmakers.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on January 10, 2008 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Music at Sundance is always something extraordinary. There are always the new, breakout musical acts that are going to go on to do fabulous things. There are generally a few acts from the "old guarde" doing their swan song in the mountains. There are two options ....

Music on Main are the outdoor (yes, outdoor in the dead of winter) concerts. This year's artists on 24 January include GOLD STREETS as the opening act, HA HA TONKA in a supporting role, and MERIDIAN WEST headlining.

For those who prefer their music in a warmer setting, there is the Music Cafe. This year's scheduled artists include Ingrid Michaelson, Jesca Hoop, Sea Wolf, Paddy Casey, Eef Barzelay, Pat Monahan, Ben's Brother, Sondre Lerche, AM, Jessie Baylin, Patti Smith, Peter & Gordon, Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, Butch Walker, Quincy Coleman, Adam Levy, Tim Finn, Gavin DeGraw, Missy Higgins, Meiko, Brett Dennen and ROAN.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on January 06, 2008 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I love Sundance Panel Discussions. They bring contemporary filmmakers together to talk candidly about the issues of the day. I've attended panels that had panelists vigorously disagreeing with one another about the subject. I've attended panels that had the audience members verbally assaulting filmmakers for their opinions. There is always something wonderful that happens in the Panel Discussions. There are panels at the Prospector and the Filmmaker Lodge. Here then, a brief summary of this year's schedule.

Filmmaker Lodge

Saturday, 19Jan: Rewriting the Process
A discussion of voice, collaboration, adaptation and rewriting by participants in the Sundance Screenwriters Laboratory.

Sunday, 20Jan: Are You Global Enough
New funding and training opportunities in the international documentary community.

Monday, 21Jan: Sundance Work in Process
Documentary filmmakers who have participated in and been supported by the Sundance Documentary Film Program.

Monday, 21Jan: The Producing Cap
Seasoned producers discuss problem-solving in contemporary filmmaking.

Tuesday, 22Jan: Meet the Film Funds and Commissioning Editors
YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT to assure being able to attend it. Meet folks from HBO, PBS, ITVS, A&E and other funders. Come prepared, have your pitch, your summary, a video short and anything else that might help sell your piece.

Tuesday, 22Jan: Black in America
Discussions with African American filmmakers about where progress is being made in Black Cinema.

Wednesday, 23Jan: The Latin Resurgence
A while back I did a post on the rising popularity of Mexican cinema. At Sundance, they've got a panel on the broader rise of Latin American cinema.

Thursday, 24Jan: Stories that Must Be Told: Today's Human Rights
The documentary film movement as a witness and agent for change in the Human Rights Movement.

Thursday, 24Jan: Producing Native Cinema
Like Black Cinema and Latin American cinema, Native Cinema is on the rise. The contemporary marketplace seems every more welcoming to more voices and diverse stories.

Friday, 25Jan: Critics Cornered?
Do critics still matter? Now that there are gazillions of blog sites and viewer review sites, what is the role of critics in the success or failure of a film?

Prospector Panels

Saturday, 19Jan: On Crisis Survival: Stories of Disaster and Its Aftermath
How does filmmaking intersect with disasters and human crisis?

Sunday, 20Jan: In 3-D: The Future Is Now
Leading producers and creatives discuss the new generation of 3D in film and gaming.

Monday, 21Jan: On Comedy: Are We Laughing in Dark Times?
Film comedy is often the domain of perversity, taboo and dysfunction. What are we allowed to laugh at in these dark times? What are we laughing?

Tuesday, 22Jan: On Invention: The Cinema and Science of Moving Forward
Neurobiologically speaking, what does it mean to have an inventive mind? An assembly of scientists and filmmakers will tinker with the idea.

Wednesday, 23Jan: On Cinematic Imagination: New Spaces for a New Cinema Culture
How do you establish an environment where originality can flourish? For artists working outside of traditional modes of moviemaking, the creative freedoms and unique perspectives are discussed.

Friday, 25Jan: On Plurality: The Middle East in Perspective
Exploring Islam, expressing personal stories, and the transformative power of film.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on January 05, 2008 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT/ U.S.A.
Director: Brett Simon; Screenwriter: Kevin Jakubowski — A rookie journalist for the school paper unravels a mysterious plot involving the class president, drugs, and a ring of stolen test scores in this noir caper set at a quirky Catholic High School. Cast: Reece Thompson, Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, Michael Rapaport, Kathryn Morris, Josh Pais.

BE KIND REWIND/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Michel Gondry — When a man whose body accidentally becomes magnetized unintentionally erases every tape in his friend's video store, the pair set out to remake the lost films, including BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE LION KING and ROBOCOP. Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Mia Farrow, Danny Glover.

CSNY DÉJÀ VU/ U.S.A.
Director: Bernard Shakey; Screenwriters: Neil Young, Mike Cerre — The war in Iraq is the backdrop as the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young "Freedom of Speech Tour" crisscrosses North America. Echoes of Vietnam-era anti-war sentiment abound as the band connects with today's audiences. Cast: David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Mike Cerre, Stephen Colbert.

THE DEAL/ Canada
Director: Steven Schachter; Screenwriters: William H. Macy, Steven Schachter — A long-time Hollywood producer on the verge of suicide cons a major studio into financing a $100-million film based on a non-existent script, starring a black action star who has converted to Judaism. Cast: William H. Macy, Meg Ryan, LL Cool J.

DEATH IN LOVE/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Boaz Yakin — A self-assured but neurotic 40-year-old bachelor attempts to make sense of his complicated life as he negotiates his sexual relationships in the shadow of his mother’s concentration camp experience. Cast: Josh Lucas, Jacqueline Bisset, Adam Brody, Lukas Haas.

DIMINISHED CAPACITY/ U.S.A.
Director: Terry Kinney; Screenwriter: Sherwood Kiraly — Learning that his senile uncle harbors a priceless baseball card, Cooper embarks on a road trip intent on selling it to save money for his uncle's later years. He and his friends become entangled in the oddball world of baseball memorabilia and love. Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda, Virginia Madsen, Dylan Baker.

THE ESCAPIST/ Ireland
Director: Rupert Wyatt; Screenwriters: Rupert Wyatt and Daniel Hardy — A convict twelve years into a life sentence is determined to make peace with his sick daughter. He develops an ingenious escape plan, recruiting a band of misfits to put it into action. Cast: Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Seu Jorge, Damian Lewis.

THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Sean McGinly — When a law school dropout answers an advertisement to be a personal assistant he unknowingly signs on to work for a belligerent has-been magician struggling to resurrect his career. This leads to a journey across the country staging the comeback of a lifetime. Cast: Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks, Steve Zahn.

THE GUITAR/ U.S.A.
Director: Amy Redford; Screenwriter: Amos Poe — The life of a woman is transformed after she is diagnosed with a terminal disease, fired from her job and abandoned by her boyfriend. Given two months to live, she throws caution to the wind to pursue her dreams. Cast: Saffron Burrows, Isaach De Bankole, Paz De La Huerta.

HENRY POOLE IS HERE/ U.S.A.
Director: Mark Pellington; Screenwriter: Albert Torres — Henry Poole abandons his fiancée and family business to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. The discovery of a "miracle" by a nosy neighbor ruptures his solitude and restores his faith in life. Cast: Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, Cheryl Hines, Adriana Barraza.

IN BRUGES/ United Kingdom
Director and Screenwriter: Martin McDonagh — Two London hit men are ordered to take a forced vacation in Bruges, Belgium. This is the suspenseful, twisted tale of how their time in exile goes awry. Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy.

INCENDIARY/ United Kingdom
Director and Screenwriter: Sharon Maguire — A spirited young mother juggles grief and love in the aftermath of a dramatic terrorist attack in London. Cast: Michelle Williams, Ewan McGregor, Matthew MacFadyen.

THE MERRY GENTLEMAN/ U.S.A.
Director: Michael Keaton; Screenwriter: Ron Lazzeretti — After fleeing an abusive marriage, a young woman sets off to start a new life. When she finds herself an unwitting witness to a murder she stumbles into a curious friendship with a depressed hit man. Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Michael Keaton.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN/ U.S.A.
Director: Kenny Leon; Screenwriter: Paris Qualles — After moving to Chicago’s South Side in the 1950s, a black family struggles to deal with poverty, racism, and inner conflict as they strive for a better life. Adapted for the screen from Lorraine Hansberry's play, this is a moving portrait of dreams deferred. Cast: Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, Sean Patrick Thomas.

SAVAGE GRACE/ U.S.A.
Director: Tom Kalin, Screenwriter: Howard A. Rodman — The true story of the beautiful and charismatic Barbara Daly, who married above her class to Brooks Baekeland, heir to the Bakelite plastics fortune. Their only child is a failure in his father's eyes, and as he matures and becomes increasingly close to his lonely mother, the seeds for tragedy are sown. Cast: Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne.

SLEEPWALKING/ Canada/ U.S.A.
Director: Bill Maher; Screenwriter: Zac Stanford — A young man ill equipped to raise his abandoned niece is forced to take responsibility when faced with the prospect of losing her to a foster home. Cast: Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb, Charlize Theron, Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, Deborrah-Lee Furness.

SMART PEOPLE/U.S.A.
Director: Noam Murro; Screenwriter: Mark Jude Poirier — An acerbic and self-absorbed literature professor has alienated his son and turned his daughter into an overachieving, friendless teen. When his brother unexpectedly shows up at his door, the man is forced is to confront his own life. Cast: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes.

TOWELHEAD (F.K.A. NOTHING IS PRIVATE)/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Alan Ball — The life of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl is illuminated as she navigates her way through the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and sexual awakening. Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Toni Collette, Summer Bishil.

TRANSSIBERIAN/ Spain
Director: Brad Anderson; Screenwriters: Brad Anderson and Will Conroy — A Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers. Cast: Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Kate Mara, Thomas Kretschmann, Eduardo Noriega and Ben Kingsley.

U2 3D/ U.S.A.
Directors: Catherine Owens, Mark Pellington — A 3-D presentation of U2’s global “Vertigo” tour. Shot at seven different shows, this production employs the greatest number of 3-D cameras ever used for a single project.

THE VISITOR/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Tom McCarthy — A college professor becomes embroiled in the lives of a young immigrant couple he discovers squatting in his Manhattan apartment. Confronted with adversity, these strangers become inextricably bound together. Cast: Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?/ U.S.A.
Director: Barry Levinson; Screenwriter: Art Linson — A comedy about a desperate movie producer who is trying to survive a crazed director, a shameless actor, a clueless executive, a battered agent, and above all a broken second marriage while struggling to maintain a shred of dignity. Cast: Robert DeNiro, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro.

THE YEAR OF GETTING TO KNOW US/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Patrick Sisam — A commitment-phobic man reunites with his estranged, ailing father and comes to terms with his own childhood. Cast: Jimmy Fallon, Chase Ellison, Lucy Liu, Sharon Stone, Tom Arnold.

THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF/ U.S.A.
Director: Udayan Prasad; Screenwriter: Erin Dignam — A recently released convict and a pair of disillusioned young people, three strangers of two generations, bound by loneliness, reach out to one another, embarking on a road trip through Louisiana. Cast: Maria Bello, William Hurt, Eddie Redmayne, Veronica Russell.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on December 01, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

SPECTRUM DOCUMENTARY

ANVIL! THE TRUE STORY OF ANVIL/ U.S.A.
Director: Sacha Gervasi — At 14, best friends Robb Reiner and Lips made a pact to rock together forever. Their band, Anvil, hailed as the "demi-gods of Canadian metal," influenced a musical generation that includes Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, despite never hitting the big time. Following a calamitous European tour, Lips and Robb, now in their fifties, set off to record their 13th album in one last attempt to fulfill their boyhood dreams.

THE BLACK LIST/ U.S.A.
Director: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders; Screenwriter: Elvis Mitchell — Journalist Elvis Mitchell interviews twenty African American leaders, ranging from athletes and academics to politicians, social activists, and artists, providing a series of living portraits— a unique glimpse into the zeitgeist of black America— and redefining traditional notions of a "blacklist."

KICKING IT/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Susan Koch — The lives of homeless people are changed forever through an international soccer competition. This film follows six players as they set off for Cape Town, South Africa to play in the Homeless World Cup.

THE LINGUISTS/ U.S.A.
Directors: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger; Screenwriter: Daniel A. Miller — David and Greg are "The Linguists," who document languages on the verge of extinction. In the rugged landscapes of Siberia, India, and Bolivia, their resolve is tested by institutionalized racism and violent economic unrest.

MADE IN AMERICA/ U.S.A.
Director: Stacy Peralta; Screenwriters: Stacy Peralta, Sam George — With a first-person look at the notorious Crips and Bloods, this film examines the conditions that have led to decades of devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?/ France
Director: Morgan Spurlock; Screenwriters: Jeremy Chilnick and Morgan Spurlock — Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock explores every nook and cranny of the Middle East on a quest to find the world's most wanted man.

YOUNG@HEART/ United Kingdom
Director: Stephen Walker — A choir of Massachusetts senior citizens delights audiences worldwide with their covers of songs by everyone from The Clash and Coldplay to Jimi Hendrix and Sonic Youth.

SPECTRUM DRAMATIC

AUGUST/ U.S.A.
Director: Austin Chick; Screenwriter: Howard A. Rodman — An aggressive young dot-com entrepreneur struggles to keep his head above water as the bottom falls out of the market in August of 2001. Cast: Josh Hartnett, Adam Scott, Naomie Harris.

BAGHEAD / U.S.A.
Directors and Screenwriters: Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass — As previously done in their last film THE PUFFY CHAIR, the Duplass Brothers explore the minutiae of relationship dynamics in this in-depth study of a group of desperate actor friends. And a bag. And a head. Cast: Steve Zissis, Ross Partridge, Greta Gerwig.

BIRDS OF AMERICA/ U.S.A.
Director: Craig Lucas; Screenwriter: Elyse Friedman — Three siblings couldn’t be more different, or more neurotic. But when they find themselves converging at the family manse, they become surprisingly indispensable to one another. Cast: Matthew Perry, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ben Foster.

BLIND DATE/ U.S.A.
Director: Stanley Tucci; Screenwriters: Stanley Tucci, David Schechter — A married couple has suffered a tragedy, and now the only way they can relate to one another is by meeting as different characters through a series of personal ads. A remake of the original work by the late Dutch director Theo van Gogh. Cast: Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Thijs Romer.

BOTTLE SHOCK/ U.S.A.
Director: Randall Miller; Screenwriters: Jody Savin, Randall Miller — The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as "Judgment of Paris." Cast: Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodríguez, Eliza Dushku.


CHRONIC TOWN/ U.S.A.
Director: Tom Hines; Screenwriter: Michael Kamsky — A bittersweet slice-of-life comedy about a cab driver with substance abuse problems who weathers a cold Alaskan winter with his cadre of friends and lovers. Cast: JR Bourne, Emily Wagner, Dan Butler.

GOLIATH/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: David Zellner — Faced with a demotion, a pending divorce, and less-than-friendly neighbors, a man pins his hopes for salvation on finding his missing cat, Goliath. Cast: David Zellner, Caroline O'Connor, Nathan Zellner.

A GOOD DAY TO BE BLACK & SEXY/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Dennis Dortch — Six progressive vignettes explore sexuality and relationships in the black community of Los Angeles. Cast: Kathryn Taylor, Valley Jones, Chonte' Harris.

LOVE COMES LATELY/ Germany/ Austria
Director and Screenwriter: Jan Schütte — An 80-year-old man continues to pursue his love life with youthful vigor, risking his relationship with the woman he loves. Based on the short stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Cast: Otto Tausig, Rhea Perlman, Tovah Feldshuh

MOMMA'S MAN/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Azazel Jacobs — A man who has avoided his wife and child at home has a change of heart after an imposed stay in his own parents' loft. Cast: Flo Jacobs, Ken Jacobs, Dana Varon.

QUID PRO QUO/ U.S.A.
Director and Screenwriter: Carlos Brooks — A paraplegic New York public radio reporter becomes involved with a mysterious woman while researching a story about able-bodied people who secretly yearn to be paralyzed. Cast: Nick Stahl, Vera Farmiga, Kate Burton.

RED/ U.S.A.
Director: Trygve Diesen; Co-Director: Lucky McKee; Screenwriter: Stephen Susco)­— An older, reclusive man's best friend and inspiration for living is his 14-year-old dog named "Red." When three troublesome teens kill the dog for no good reason, the grieving man sets out for justice and redemption by whatever means available to him. Cast: Brian Cox, Tom Sizemore, Kim Dickens.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on December 01, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The competition films for Sundance 2008 have been announced. For this festival, 121 feature-length films were selected representing 25 countries with 55 first-time filmmakers, including 32 in competition. These films were selected from 3,624 feature film submissions (2,021 U.S. and 1,603 international) as compared with last year when there were 1,852 U.S. and 1,435 international submissions.

Festival films screen in nine sections: Documentary Competition, Dramatic Competition, World Cinema Documentary Competition, World Cinema Dramatic Competition, Spectrum, New Frontier, Park City at Midnight, and from the Sundance Collection. Feature films selected for the Premieres, Spectrum, Park City at Midnight, and New Frontier categories will be announced Thursday, November 29. The Short Film program will be announced on Wednesday, December 5. Films screening in The Sundance Collection will be announced on Wednesday, December 12

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 28, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This year’s 16 films were selected from 1,068 submissions.

AMERICAN SON
Director: Neil Abramson; Screenwriter: Eric Schmid — Before being deployed for active duty, a young Marine takes a four-day Thanksgiving leave to return home to Bakersfield, California. There he meets a young woman, tries to connect with old friends, and confronts his volatile home life. Cast: Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz, Matt O'Leary, Jay Hernandez, Tom Sizemore, Chi McBride.

ANYWHERE, U.S.A.
Director: Anthony (Chusy) Haney-Jardine; Screenwriters: Anthony (Chusy) Haney-Jardine, Jennifer Macdonald — Told in three segments ranging from satirical to tragic, the film is a wildly original look at American manners, prejudices, and family dynamics. Cast: Perla Haney-Jardine.

BALLAST
Director and Screenwriter: Lance Hammer — A riveting, lyrical portrait of an emotionally frayed family whose lives are torn asunder by a tragic act in a small Mississippi Delta town. Cast: Michael J. Smith Sr., Jim Myron Ross, Tarra Riggs, Johnny McPhail.

CHOKE
Director and Screenwriter: Clark Gregg —An adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s (Fight Club) novel, CHOKE is the sardonic story about mother and son relationship, fear of aging, sexual addiction, and the dark side of historical theme parks. Cast: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly MacDonald, Brad Henke.

DOWNLOADING NANCY
Director: Johan Renck; Screenwriters: Pamela Cuming, Lee Ross —The tale of an unhappy wife whose online search for someone to put her out of her misery results in a torturous love affair. Cast: Maria Bello, Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell, Amy Brenneman.

FROZEN RIVER
Director and Screenwriter: Courtney Hunt —Set in rural upstate New York on a Mohawk Reservation bordering Canada, a mother left to care for her teenage son finds herself lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling. Cast: Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O'Keefe, Mark Boone, Jr.

GOOD DICK
Director and Screenwriter: Marianna Palka —The tale of a lonely girl drawn from her isolated life and solitary apartment by a doting young video store clerk who strives to capture her affections. Cast: Jason Ritter, Marianna Palka, Tom Arnold, Mark Webber, Martin Starr, Eric Edelstein.

THE LAST WORD
Director and Screenwriter: Geoff Haley —An off-beat romantic comedy about a solitary writer who makes his living composing other people's suicide notes. After meeting the sister of a recently deceased client, he finds his reclusive life and secret career upended by an unusual romance. Cast: Winona Ryder, Wes Bentley, Ray Romano.

THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH
Director and Screenwriter: Rawson Marshall Thurber — Based on Michael Chabon's novel, the film chronicles the defining summer of a recent college graduate who crosses his gangster father and explores love, sexuality, and the enigmas surrounding his life and his city. Cast: Jon Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Sienna Miller, Mena Suvari, Nick Nolte.

NORTH STARR
Director and Screenwriter: Matthew Stanton —After witnessing the brutal murder of his best friend, a young African American man flees the badlands of Houston and finds himself in Trublin, a backward, racially intolerant town where he meets an unlikely kindred spirit who takes him under his wing. Cast: Jerome Hawkins, Matthew Stanton, Chris Sullivan, Isaac Lamb, Zach Johnson, Wayne Campbell.

PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND
Director and Screenwriter: Daniel Barnz — Confounded by her clashes with the seemingly rule-obsessed world, a little girl takes her already dysfunctional family down the rabbit hole when she seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher.
Cast: Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman, Campbell Scott, Peter Gerety.

PRETTY BIRD
Director and Screenwriter: Paul Schneider — A comic tale of three would-be entrepreneurs who set out to invent a rocket belt. The clash of their mismatched personalities soon dissolves the business into a morass of recriminations, retaliations, kidnapping, and murder in this parable of American dreams and delusions. Cast: Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Kristen Wiig, David Hornsby.

SLEEP DEALER
Director: Alex Rivera; Screenwriters: Alex Rivera, David Riker — Set in a near-future, militarized world marked by closed borders, virtual labor and a global digital network that joins minds and experiences, three strangers risk their lives to connect with each other and break the barriers of technology. Cast: Luis Fernando Peña, Leonor Varela, Jacob Vargas.

SUGAR
Directors and Screenwriters: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck —Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who last teamed up for HALF NELSON, chronicle the journey of Dominican baseball star Miguel "Sugar" Santos recruited from his native country to play in the U.S. minor leagues. Cast: Algenis Perez Soto.

SUNSHINE CLEANING
Director: Christine Jeffs; Screenwriter: Megan Holley — —Struck by financial hardship, an ambitiousmother and her unmotivated sister become entrepreneurs in the field of biohazard removal and crime scene clean-up. Cast: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin.

THE WACKNESS
Director and Screenwriter: Jonathan Levine — During a sweltering New York summer, a troubled teenage drug dealer trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist, and in the process falls for the doctor's daughter. Cast: Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Mary Kate Olsen, Method Man.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 28, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This year's 16 films were selected from a record 953 submissions.

AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Director and Screenwriter: Edet Belzberg — An exploration of army recruitment in the United States told through the story of Louisiana Sergeant, First Class Clay Usie, one of the most successful recruiters in the history of the U.S. Army.

AMERICAN TEEN
Director and Screenwriter: Nanette Burstein — This cinema vérité chronicles four seniors at an Indiana high school and yields a surprising snapshot of Midwestern life.

BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER*
Director: Christopher Bell; Screenwriters: Christopher Bell, Alexander Buono, Tamsin Rawady — A filmmaker explores America’s win-at-all-cost culture by examining his two brothers' steroids use...and his own.

FIELDS OF FUEL
Director and Screenwriter: Josh Tickell — America is addicted to oil and it is time for an intervention. Enter Josh Tickell, a man with a plan and a Veggie Van, who is taking on big oil, big government, and big soy to find solutions in places few people have looked.

FLOW: FOR LOVE OF WATER
Director: Irena Salina — Water is the very essence of life, sustaining every being on the planet. FLOW confronts the disturbing reality that our crucial resource is dwindling and greed just may be the cause.

GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON
Director: Alex Gibney —Fueled by a raging libido, Wild Turkey, and superhuman doses of drugs, Thompson was a true "free lance," goring sacred cows with impunity, hilarity, and a steel-eyed conviction for writing wrongs.

THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Director and Screenwriter: Lisa F. Jackson — Jackson travels to remote villages in the war zones of the Congo to meet rape survivors, providing a piercing, intimate look into the struggle of their lives.

I.O.U.S.A.
Director: Patrick Creadon — Few are aware that America may be on the brink of a financial meltdown. I.O.U.S.A. explores the country’s shocking current fiscal condition and ways to avoid a national economic disaster.

NERAKHOON (THE BETRAYAL)
Director: Ellen Kuras; Co-Director: Thavisouk Phrasavath; Screenwriters: Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath — The story of a family forced to emigrate from Laos after the chaos of the secret air war waged by the U.S. during the Vietnam War.

THE ORDER OF MYTHS
Director: Margaret Brown — In 2007 Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras is celebrated...and complicated. Following a cast of characters, parades, and parties across an enduring color line, we see that beneath the surface of pageantry lies something else altogether.

PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE
Director and Screenwriter: Steven Sebring — An intimate portrait of music icon Patti Smith that mirrors the essence of the artist herself.

ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED
Director: Marina Zenovich; Screenwriters: Marina Zenovich, Joe Bini, P.G. Morgan — The film explores the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary director Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.

SECRECY
Directors: Peter Galison, Robb Moss — Amidst the American hunger for instantaneous news and up-to-date “facts,” this unflinching film uncovers the vast, invisible world of government secrecy.

SLINGSHOT HIP HOP
Director: Jackie Reem Salloum —The voice of a new generation rocks and rhymes as Palestinian rappers form alternative voices of resistance within the Israeli-Palestinian struggle.

TRACES OF THE TRADE: A STORY FROM THE DEEP NORTH
Director: Katrina Browne; Co-Directors: Alla Kovgan, Jude Ray; Screenwriters: Katrina Browne, Alla Kovgan — History finally gets rewritten as descendants of the largest slave-trading family in early America face their past, and present, as they explore their violent heritage across oceans and continents.

TROUBLE THE WATER
Directors: Tia Lessin, Carl Deal — An aspiring rap artist and her streetwise husband, armed with a video camera, show what survival is all about when they are trapped in New Orleans by deadly floodwaters, and seize a chance for a new beginning.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 28, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This year’s 16 selections from 983 submissions represent 17 countries.

ABSURDISTAN || Germany
Director: Veit Helmer; Screenwriters: Veit Helmer, Zaza Buadze, Gordan Mihic, Ahmet Golbol — This inventive and allegorical comedy centers on two childhood sweethearts who seem destined for one another until the women of their isolated village, angered by male indifference toward the water shortage, go on a sex strike that threatens the young couple's first night of love. Cast: Maximilian Mauff, Kristyna Mlérova.

BLUE EYELIDS (PÁRPADOS AZULES) || Mexico
Director: Ernesto Contreras; Screenwriter: Carlos Contreras)– When Marina wins a beach getaway trip for two, her desperate search for someone to take with her leads to a complicated relationship and the revelation that she might be better off on her own. Cast: Cecilia Suàrez, Enrique Arreola, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Tiaré Scanda, Luisa Huertas.

CAPTAIN ABU RAED || Jordan
Director and Screenwriter: Amin Matalqa — An aging airport janitor who is mistaken for an airline pilot by a group of poor neighborhood children weaves fantastical stories to offer hope for a sad, and sometimes unchangeable, reality. Cast: Nadim Sawalha, Hussein Al-Sous, Rana Sultan, Uday Al-Qiddissi, Ghandi Saber.

THE DRUMMER (JIN. GWU) || Hong Kong, Taiwan, Germany
Director and Screenwriter: Kenneth Bi — A young man transforms from a reckless youth and gangster into a mature adult through the inspiration of Zen drumming. Cast: Jaycee Chan, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Josie Ho, Roy Cheung, Lee Sinje, Kenneth Tsang.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A GANGSTER || France
Director and Screenwriter: Samuel Benchetrit — Told in four vignettes, this existential comedy relates the exploits of four aspiring criminals who hope to improve their lot, but find that they might not have what it takes for a life of crime. Cast: Sergi López, Jean Rochefort, Alain Bashung, Anna Mouglalis.

JUST ANOTHER LOVE STORY (KÆRLIGHED PÅ FILM) || Denmark
Director and Screenwriter: Ole Borendal) —Jonas's quiet life as a suburban family man takes an unexpected twist when he causes a car crash that leaves a young woman with amnesia. When he is mistaken for her boyfriend, Jonas's decision to play the role gradually unravels his life. Cast: Anders W. Berthelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Charlotte Fich, Dejan Cukic, Ewa Fröling.

KING OF PING PONG (PING PONGKINGEN) || Sweden
Director: Jens Jonsson; Screenwriters: Jens Jonsson, Hans Gunnarson) An ostracized and bullied teenage boy who excels only in ping pong descends into an acrimonious struggle with his younger, more popular brother when the truth about their family history and their father surfaces over the course of their spring break. Cast: Georgi Staykov, Ann-Sofie Normi, Frederik Nilsson, Jerry Johansson. International Premiere
MÁNCORA || Spain ||Peru
Director: Ricardo de Montreuil; Screenwriter: Oscar Torres)– A young man mourning the death of his father sets out with his estranged stepsister and her arrogant husband for adventures in the lush, picturesque beach town of Máncora, Peru.

MEGANE (GLASSES) || Japan
Director and Screenwriter: Naoko Ogigami)–Taeko's southern vacation becomes a life-changing experience when she discovers a unique beach community unified by surprising and perhaps odd traditions in this comedic film. Cast: Satomi Kobayashi, Mikako Ichikawa, Ryo Kase, Ken Mitsuishi, Masako Motai.

MERMAID (RUSALKA) || Russia
Director and Screenwriter: Anna Melikyan) – The fanciful tale of an introverted little girl who grows up believing she has the power to make wishes come true. She must reconcile this belief with reality when, as a young woman, she journeys to Moscow and grapples with love, modernity and materialism. Cast: Masha Shalaeva, Evgeniy Ciganov, Maria Sokolova, Nastya Doncova.

PERRO COME PERRO (DOG EAT DOG) || Colombia
Director: Carlos Moreno; Screenwriters: Alonso Torres, Carlos Moreno) – In the crime world of Colombia, there is an unwritten code. When Víctor and Eusebio, two hoods who bungle a shake-down job, break that code, they unwittingly sign their own death sentence. Cast: Marlon Moreno, Oscar Borda, Alvaro Rodríguez, Blas Jaramillo, Paulina Rivas.

RIPRENDIMI (GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE) || Italy
Director: Anna Negri; Screenwriters: Anna Negri, Giovanna Mori) – A modern young couple with a new baby are forced to deal with the almost comedic pain of breaking up while being the subject of a documentary that quickly crosses professional lines into their private lives. Cast: Alba Rohrwacher, Marco Foschi, Valentina Lodovini, Stefano Fresi, Alessandro Averone.

STRANGERS || Israel
Directors and Screenwriters: Erez Tadmor, Guy Nattiv — An Israeli man and a Palestinian woman meet serendipitously during the carefree atmosphere of the World Cup finals in Germany, drawing them out of the stark reality of their lives and into a passionate affair. Cast: Liron Levo, Lubna Azabal, Dominique Lollia, Patrick Albenque, Abdallah el Akal, Roger Dumas.

UNDER THE BOMBS (SOUS LES BOMBES) || Lebanon
Director: Philippe Aractingi; Screenwriters: Philippe Aractingi,Michel Léviant — In the wake of Israel's 2006 bombardment of Lebanon, a determined woman finds her way into the country convincing a taxi cab driver to take a risky journey through the scarred region in search of her sister and her son. Cast: Nada Abou Farhat, Georges Khabbaz, Bshara Atallah, and Rawia Elchab.

THE WAVE (DIE WELLE) || Germany
Director: Dennis Gansel; Screenwriters: Dennis Gansel and Peter Thorwarth —A high school teacher's unusual experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship spins horribly out of control when he forms a social unit with a life of its own. Cast: Juergen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul.

THE WIND AND THE WATER (BURWA DII EBO) || Panama
Directors and Screenwriters: A collective collaboration)– A young indigenous teen seeking his fortune in Panama City struggles to acclimate to chaotic urban life, where he becomes enamored with a girl from a wealthy, assimilated family. Later, he encounters his crush once again--but this time the landscape and tradition define their interaction.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 28, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The 16 films selected from 620 submissions represent 8 countries.

ALONE IN FOUR WALLS (ALLEIN IN VIER WÄNDEN) || Germany
Director and Screenwriter: Alexandra Westmeier —Adolescent boys struggle to grow up in a home for delinquents in rural Russia where life behind bars may be better than the release to freedom.

THE ART STAR AND THE SUDANESE TWINS || New Zealand
Director and Screenwriter: Pietra Brettkelly — Vanessa Beecroft is obsessively determined to adopt Sudanese twin orphans. Her consuming passion drives her marriage to a breaking point and fuels her controversial art, raising troubling questions about exploitation, culture clash, and the imposition of the West on Africa.

BE LIKE OTHERS || United Kingdom
Director: Tanaz Eshaghian — An intimate and unflinching look at life in Iran, seen through the lens of those living at its fringes, BE LIKE OTHERS is a provocative look at a generation of young Iranian men choosing to undergo sex change surgery.

A COMPLETE HISTORY OF MY SEXUAL FAILURES || United Kingdom
Director: Chris Waitt; Screenwriters: Chris Waitt and Henry Trotter)–Chris is a useless boyfriend. Determined to find out why, he consults his ex-girlfriends, medical practitioners, producers, and mother to find out how women really see him. Has this journey made him potential boyfriend material or is he staring a life of loneliness square in the face?

DEREK || United Kingdom
Director: Isaac Julien — A film involving two courageous and innovative artists—one the subject and one the filmmaker—provides a cinematic journey that illuminates the work and enduring importance of the late Derek Jarman.

DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT ||Pakistan
Directors and Screenwriters: Sabiha Sumar and Sachithanandam Sathananthan — From on-the-street interviews to audiences with religious leaders to dinner with the President of Pakistan, the film takes the temperature of a culture on issues from politics to women’s rights.

DURAKOVO: THE VILLAGE OF FOOLS || France
Director and Screenwriter: Nino Kirtadze — Russian nationalism percolates in a castle outside Moscow, where Mikhail Morozov rules autonomously over young initiates, laying the groundwork for a rapidly growing right-wing movement.

IN PRISON MY WHOLE LIFE || United Kingdom
Director: Marc Evans; Screenwriters: Marc Evans, William Francome — A curious young filmmaker attempts to understand the true story behind award-winning journalist Mumia Abu Jamal’s death row sentence, and comes to startling realizations about American history and its justice system. With William Francome, Noam Chomsky, Alice Walker, Mos Def, Smoof , Snoop Dogg, Angela Davis .

MAN ON WIRE || United Kingdom
Director and Screenwriter: James Marsh —In 1974, Philippe Petit, a young Frenchman, dances on a wire suspended between New York's Twin Towers. Consequently, Philippe is arrested and thrown into jail for what would become known as “the artistic crime of the century.”

pUUJEE || Japan
Director and Screenwriter: Kazuya Yamada — Against the backdrop of a magnificent but harsh natural landscape, a Japanese photojournalist encounters puujee, a young girl who tames wild horses on the Mongolian plains.

RECYCLE || Jordan
Director and Screenwriter: Al Massad — A Jordanian family man living in the hometown of Muslim leader Al-Zarqawi struggles to support his family and define his identity in a tense political climate.

STRANDED: I’VE COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED ON THE MOUNTAINS || France
Director and Screenwriter: Gonzalo Arijon — For the first time ever, survivors of the famous 1974 Andes plane crash tell in their own words their harrowing story of survival.

TRIAGE: DR. JAMES ORBINSKI’S HUMANITARIAN DILEMMA || Canada
Director: Patrick Reed — Acclaimed doctor James Orbinski, former head of Doctors Without Borders, returns to Africa to confront the harsh reality of conditions there and explores what it means to be a humanitarian.

UP THE YANGTZE || Canada
Director and Screenwriter: Yung Chang —At the edge of the Yangtze River, not far from the Three Gorges Dam, young men and women take up employment on a cruise ship, where they confront rising waters and a radically changing China.

THE WOMEN OF BRUKMAN (LES FEMMES DE LA BRUKMAN) || Canada
Director and Screenwriter: Isaac Isitan —Amidst Argentina’s financial collapse, workers take over a Buenos Aires men’s clothing factory and continue producing clothing on a self-management model. As the formerly poor become business managers, their lives are changed forever.

YASUKUNI || Japan
Director and Screenwriter: Li Ying —Controversy abounds as Japanese officials honor the deceased at the legendary Yasukuni shrine, where swords used to kill Chinese soldiers were famously forged. Few know about the shrine’s eerie past and the mysterious sword inside. Cast: Kariya Naoji, Sugawara Ryuken,Gaojin Sumei.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 28, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The 2008 Independent Spirit Awards were announced and the Todd Haynes film I'M NOT THERE led the nominations. With films like POISON and SWOON under his belt, Haynes has enduring Indie Cred. Some of the other films and folks on the list are a little harder to understand. Best Male Lead nominees Phillip Seymour Hoffman (THE SAVAGES), Don Cheadle (TALK TO ME) and tony Leung (LUST, CAUTION) are fairly mainstream guys. In the Best Female and Supporting Female Leads we've got Angelina Jolie (A MIGHTY HEART), Cate Blanchett (I'M NOT THERE), Marisa Tomei (BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (MARGOT AT THE WEDDING). In the Best Film category we've got the Brad Pitt produced A MIGHTY HEART, the John Malkovich produced JUNO and the Kathleen Kennedy THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY.

It is an impressive list of names, a significant group of projects. I'm of two minds on the Spirit Award Announcement. On the one hand, it's great to see creative talents like Hoffman and Blanchett committing their talents to riskier projects. When actors, directors and producers of this caliber get involved with independent films, those films have an exponentially improved chance of being successful. So, that's a good thing, right? Well, there's the other hand to consider.

It's never been easier to make an independent film. The hard production costs have fallen because of digital advances. Digital production workflow brings filmmaking into the realm of possibility for the determined filmmaker. So, the question is, if you've got an amazing idea and you make a terrific film, does it have the chance to see the light of day if it's going up against these other guys? According the distributors I've talked to, the major consideration for a film's success? The caliber of the cast. Guess they already figured that out at IFC.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 27, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Friedrich Nietzsche said, "To predict the behavior of ordinary people in advance, you only have to assume that they will always try to escape a disagreeable situation with the smallest possible expenditure of intelligence." Obviously, documentary filmmakers are NOT ordinary people. Documentary filmmakers enter some of the most disagreeable situations willingly, repeatedly and fiercely to bring greater understanding to complex issues and difficult topics. A few days ago, I posted an entry about the films that were awarded grants from the Sundance Documentary Grant fund. The first two on the list caught my eye.

I first became aware of Anne Makepeace at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. She wrote, produced and directed the documentary ROBERT CAPA: IN LOVE AND WAR. The documentary was about the famed war photographer. You see, Nancy Schreiber was the cinematographer. I still love, love, love her work in SHADOW MAGIC. It was a gorgeous film. So that put Anne Makepeace on my radar. I noticed on the Sundance documentary summary that she's doing a new film that I find very interesting. Her next film is AS NATAYUNEAN — WE STILL LIVE HERE (US). It's about Jessie Little Doe Baird, of the Wampanoag nation, and how she revives a silenced indigenous language that was out of use for more than 150 years. The Wampanoag lived in and around Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Makepeace has a nice website with a summary of all of her film projects. She does quite a bit for PBS. She's a filmmaker worth tracking.

The connection for me is that we are currently working on a script that intersects with the Wampanoag nation!! How crazy is that? Like I ever thought I would say that ... "we're working a project about the Wampanoag nation." A friend of mine once said that there are just certain stories that are waiting to be told and one can know it's time when the topic shows up in multiple places ... an esoteric, positive-thinking, creative sort of human, she said "You just have to catch the vibe and ride the wave." So, right now, it seems that we are "in the groove."

Because of my experience in Zambia last year, I was also very interested in the Marc and Nick Francis film CHINESE SAFARI (UK). According to the Sundance description, Lusaka, Zambia is home to one of Africa's largest Chinatowns and is at the crossroads of China's strategic expansion into Africa. I belong to a message board of Zambians in Atlanta and there's been a very lively discussion on the board in the last few weeks about their concern over Zambians losing jobs to Chinese workers. Apparently the time is right for that story, it's showing up in three different places already.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 21, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Sundance Institute announced the Opening Night Film for its 2008 Sundance Film Festival is IN BRUGES, written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker and award-winning playwright, Martin McDonagh. McDonagh’s first foray into filmmaking was with the short film, SIX SHOOTER, also starring Gleeson, which won the Academy Award for best live-action short film in 2006. (A short clip of that film can be viewed on YouTube.

“In many ways IN BRUGES is a quintessential Sundance film—it’s brutal, philosophical, funny, and totally original,” said Geoffrey Gilmore, Director, Sundance Film Festival. “Martin McDonagh is a masterful storyteller, a tremendously gifted playwright and provocative risk-taker and we are thrilled to showcase his feature-length directorial debut.” The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, IN BRUGES tells the twisted tale of two London hit men ordered to take a forced vacation in Bruges, Belgium, and how their subsequent time in exile goes awry.

The 2008 Sundance Film Festival runs January 17-27, 2008 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 20, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Today, the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program announced 30 film projects to receive a record number of financial grants from the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund. Out of 300 applications from more than 25 countries, the feature-length documentary films selected will receive a total of nearly $750,000 in support. The Sundance Documentary Film Program supports U.S. and international documentary filmmakers who explore the critical issues of our times with highly crafted storytelling and stylistic innovation.

PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT

Anne Makepeace AS NATAYUNEAN-WE STILL LIVE HERE (US) Jessie Little Doe, of the Wampanoag nation, revives a silenced indigenous language that was out of use for more than 150 years.

Marc Francis and Nick Francis CHINESE SAFARI (UK) Lusaka, Zambia is home to one of Africa's largest Chinatowns and is at the crossroads of China's strategic expansion into Africa.

Pamela Yates GRANITO (US) Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchu accuses Guatemala's ex-dictator, General Rios Montt, of genocide and uses the 1982 classic documentary film, When the Mountains Tremble, as forensic evidence to bring a case against him.

Albert Maysles HANDHELD AND FROM THE HEART (US) Albert Maysles returns to his Boston roots and reconnects with old friends, resulting in an autobiographical film reflecting on a 50-year love affair with documentary.

Thierry Michel KATANGA, MINING BUSINESS (Belgium) Key players in a new, industrial revolution in Katanga (Democratic Republic of the Congo) struggle against a war being waged by ruthless multinational corporations.

Julianna Brannum LADONNA HARRIS: INDIAN 101 (US) Comanche activist LaDonna Harris conveys a unique vision of leadership to a new generation of indigenous professionals.

Özgür Dogan and Orhan Eskiköy ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL (Turkey) A year in the life of a Turkish school teacher in a remote town in Turkey. With a Kurdish class that can't speak Turkish, and the teacher who can't speak Kurdish, both are alien in the same land.

Rachel Libert SEMPER FI: ALWAYS FAITHFUL (US) Two retired Marines lead the fight for justice for U.S. soldiers exposed to dangerous toxic chemicals while stationed at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina.

Andrew Okpeaha MacLean SWALLOWED BY THE SEA (US) In a small Inuit village on the remote barrier island of Shishmaref, Alaska, residents struggle with the devastating effects of erosion due to global climate change.

Carvin Eison and Christine Christopher UMBRA: EMERGING FROM THE SHADOWS (US) In Jena, Louisiana, nooses swing from the schoolyard oak tree and six black high school students are persecuted in ways that eerily evoke the past. The story illuminates the entrenched culture of racially motivated violence in America.

Will Sankhla WE HAVE NO ORDERS TO SAVE YOU (US/India) The youngest survivors of the 2002 Gujarati riots in India move into adulthood, facing choices that will affect their future and the future of pluralism in India.

Rachael Turner and Alison Quirk WHERE WOMEN RULE (UK) In the first women-only village in Kenya, women learn to thrive after entrenched violence and male domination.

PROJECTS IN PRODUCTION/POST-PRODUCTION

Tin Dirdamal AGUA (Mexico) In Cochabamba, Bolivia, four people connected to the first “water war” of the 21st century shed light on – and perhaps foreshadow – wars to come.

Fredrik Gertten BANANAS (Sweden) Nicaraguan banana farmers take multi-national banana industrialists to court over the use of banned pesticides in an historic case.

Miao Wang BEIJING TAXI (China/US) Three Beijing taxi drivers connect a morphing cityscape with citizen tales in the midst of dizzying change accelerated by the 2008 Olympic Games.

Frederick Wiseman BOXING GYM (US) In a community boxing gym in Austin, TX, the controlled use of violence is taught to men, women, and children of all social classes, races, ages, and ethnicities.

Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt BRANDON AND THE CLIFFORD TWINS (US) Three young Lakotas on the Pine Ridge reservation are swept into a high-stakes tribal election that hangs on sovereignty, representation, and abortion politics.

Terry Jones, Laure Sullivan and Paul Wilson CASINO NATION (US) After a long and bloody struggle, the Seneca Nation of Indians is now in the casino business, and the tribe is changing forever. Casino Nation follows the conflicts the tribe faces as big money flows into this small sovereign nation.

Isaac Julien DEREK JARMAN (UK) A creative portrait of influential English filmmaker and fine artist, Derek Jarman.

Andres Habegger FINAL IMAGE (Argentina) Leonardo Henrichsen, an Argentinean cameraman, films his own murder during an attempted military coup in Chile in June 1973. The history of a continent unfolds through the images made by one man.

NC Heikin KIMJONGILIA (France/US) Survivors of North Korean concentration camps share wrenching, first-hand testimonies.

Margarita Martinez Escallon and Miguel Salazar PEACEFUL WARRIORS (Colombia) Amidst long-standing guerilla warfare throughout southern Colombia, the indigenous Nasa community strives to maintain their ideals of non-violent resistance.

Deann Borshay Liem PRECIOUS OBJECTS OF DESIRE (US) Swapped with another girl by her South Korean orphanage prior to adoption by an American couple, the filmmaker searches for her namesake and roots.

Annie Goldson AN ISLAND CALLING(New Zealand) The double murder of a gay couple in Fiji in 2001 reveals the social and political fractures in the postcolonial landscape of the Pacific.

Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers TEAM LIONESS (US) A group of female soldiers who went to Iraq as mechanics, supply clerks, and engineers, return home a year later as part of America's first generation of female combat veterans.

Jerret Engle THE KITCHEN WARRIORS (US/South Africa) Students in a township-run South African cooking school struggle to reshape their lives and pursue culinary careers.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 18, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA — Sundance is rapidly approaching! If you're interested in attending the festival, you should be looking for and booking your lodging for January or you'll be paying a small fortune. In fact, it's almost too late. They changed the package/pass process this year. I registered but did NOT receive a call time. The irony, I've been doing this since 1996, it NEVER occurred to me that there would be a problem. Another friend registered but was told she was NOT among the chosen. Then, the day after registration, was given the opportunity to buy because Package/Passes were NOT sold out. So, they went to the second-stringers. Holy horse-hockey Batman, what is going on?!?

So, to get you'all excited and inspired about the festival, you might want to go view a few of the Podcasts and Videos from Sundance Past. The vCast of THE Q&A after films like PADRE NUESTRO or the recently released WRISTCUTTERS are terrific. I love the more industry-related pieces like the Case Study of PUCCINI FOR BEGINNERS or the Creative Independence Panel Discussion. I'm always surprised those aren't downloaded more often. At any rate, you might want to look them over to get inspired ... OR ... if your film has been selected, to know what to expect following your screening!

Posted by Cyndi Greening on November 09, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Captured At The 2006 Sundance Film Festival
First Videocast on Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Recorded on Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Produced by Cyndi Greening
Videography by Michael Montesa

The thing I recall at the Sundance screening was the discussion among the actors about how difficult it was NOT to smile during the filming. Since this was supposed to be where people go when they've killed themselves, they were supposed to be emotionally flat and non-responsive. They were saying that you don't even realize who quickly, how easily and how often you smile. So, it was a struggle for them to keep their expressions expressionless and still convey the story. Here then, a brief summary from the NYTimes.

"At the beginning a mopey young man named Zia (Patrick Fugit) puts on a Tom Waits record — Mr. Waits himself will show up later — cleans his apartment, and commits suicide by the method suggested in the title. As a consequence of this act, apparently provoked by love trouble, he is plunged into a purgatory reserved for those unfortunate or impulsive souls who chose a similar exit.

It’s not a terrible existence, or nonexistence, as the case may be. For Zia, it’s a lot like the life he quit, but “a little bit worse.” This netherworld, which looks like a shabby corner of the American Southwest, is a place of broken-down cars, hand-lettered signs and unflattering fluorescent lights. No one is able to smile and the stars are invisible. Still, a desultory society has taken shape. People compare notes on how, as they put it, they “offed” (the title notwithstanding, some used nooses, guns or gas). And since everyone is already dead, there’s no reason not to smoke a cigarette or drink a beer first thing in the morning."

WRISTCUTTERS Q&A following Sundance 2006 Screening
Wristcutters - LARGE Direct download link
Wristcutters - SMALL Direct download link
Podcast feed
Cinema Minima Weblog
Personal Weblog
Email

Posted by Cyndi Greening on October 21, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

SUNDANCE FILM SUBMISSIONS: Only seven days remain! Absolute deadline is September 28, 2007. If you have a film to submit, go to http://www.sundance.org/submissions. The next festival runs January 17 through January 27, 2008.

TICKET/PASS PURCHASE LOTTERY: Starting next Monday, September 24th, you can register online for your 2008 Festival Pass and/or Ticket Package! REMEMBER: Registration is not first-come, first-serve. Selected registrants are randomly chosen by the system to receive a timeslot for an opportunity to purchase a Festival Pass or Ticket Package. Registration does not guarantee an assigned timeslot or pass/package availability. Go to http://www.sundance.org/festival/ on September 24.

VOLUNTEERS: Each year over 1000 dedicated volunteers contribute to launching the Sundance Film Festival. If you are dedicated to supporting independent film and wish to join the fun, film-loving, hard working vibrant volunteers, go to http://www2.sundance.org/volunteer/.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on September 21, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

"The only way you can influence your fate is to put your soul into your performance and hope it registers with the audience." — Mr. Eko, LOST (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)

Now, Adewale is putting his heart and soul into FARMING, a film that was chosen for the annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, which was held at the Sundance Resort in Utah from May 28– June 28, 2007. My fellow Art Faculty member, Kai Kim and I are avid LOST fans. We both adored "Mr. Eko" and were horrified when they killed him off. A powerful actor, Adewale was amazing in his role. A little research reveals that Adewale has a Masters in Law from the University of London, where he was born and raised. He actually began his career as a model in Milan. He's fluent in (obviously) Italian, English, Swahili and Yoruba. Adewale's parents are Nigerian so it is not surprising to discover that his film is being made in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

But despite his big screen success, it is in television that he has excelled. In 1997 he joined the cast of Oz, one of HBO-TV's most successful and challenging shows of the 1990s. He stayed with the series for three years, playing the drug-addicted rapist and murderer Adebisi with such depth and sensitivity that he became one of its best-known and most sympathetic characters. For this role he received NAACP Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. I'm looking forward to the film he's developing under Sundance tutelage.

"I kind of feel for the people on the show who are just coming into the business and this is their first gig. They've got a big letdown coming." — Adewale on his younger cast mates on LOST.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on July 17, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA – In the woods of Utah, in breathtaking Provo Canyon, some of the most remarkable films are being created right now! How can one be so certain of that? From May 28th through June 28th, the Sundance Institute is hosting the Annual Directors Lab and the Annual Screenwriters Lab. Of the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of submissions they received, the following projects were selected for Institute support.

The projects and participants selected for the June Directors Lab from May 28-June 23 are:
• THE CAVANAUGHS/John Morgan (co-writer/director) and Meg LeFauve (co-writer), U.S.A.
• CIRCUMSTANCE/Maryam Keshavarz (writer/director), U.S.A./Iran
• COLD SOULS/Sophie Barthes (writer/director), U.S.A.
• FARMING/Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (writer/director), United Kingdom/Nigeria
• HAITI CHERIE/Patricia Benoit (writer/director), U.S.A./Haiti
• HERE/Braden King (co-writer/director) and Dani Valent (co-writer), U.S.A./Australia
• SPOONS/Eric Lahey (writer/director), U.S.A.
• WATER & POWER/Richard Montoya (writer/director), U.S.A.

These fellows will be joined at the June Screenwriters Lab from June 23-28 by these participants and projects:
• DREAMING IN COLOUR / Tala Hadid (writer/director), Morocco/U.S.A.
• PARIAH/Dee Rees (writer/director), U.S.A.
• REFRESH, REFRESH/James Ponsoldt (writer/director), U.S.A.
• THIS IS NOT A PIPE: AN IMAGE OF TREASON/J.J. Lask (writer/director), U.S.A.
• UM HUSSEIN/Mohamed Al-Daradji (co-writer/director) and Jennifer Norridge (co-writer), Iraq/United Kingdom

You can download a PDF with full descriptions of the projects and participants.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on June 03, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA — For those of you who like to plan ahead, it's time to start thinking about Sundance 2008. Yes, the festival isn't until January but there are a number of important deadlines that precede it. If you're a filmmaker, the primary concern is preparing your film.

SUNDANCE 2008 OFFICIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINES:
U.S. & International Short Films
Friday, September 1st, 2006
    $35 ENTRY FEE

U.S. & International Feature Films and Documentaries
Monday, September 11th, 2006
    $50 ENTRY FEE

If you're planning on attending the festival, you should book your hotel in October and purchase your festival package or pass. I heard a rumor that there would be some changes in the ticketing process (again) this year, so you may want to track the Sundance site for details. Around Thanksgiving, the sales begin. In early December, the films are announced (the new glitterati are anointed) and around January 1st, ticket selections must be made. So, while it's hotter than blue blazes out there and most of you are more worried about getting to the beach than you are to the mountains of Park City, those of us who love the festival are already aware of the ticking clock. Tick tock, tick tock.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on June 03, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA — New York-based City Lights Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to 2007 Sundance Film Festival Documentary Grand Jury Prize winner MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET). Simultaneously, Celsius picked up foreign distribution rights, and the Sundance Channel took domestic broadcast rights, he added. MANDA BALA— from first-time director Jason Kohn, who produced with Jared Ian Goldman and Joey Frank — will be released theatrically in the summer. Cinetic Media repped the filmmakers in the deal.

Sarah Polley's AWAY FROM HER was released theatrically on May 4. According to Box Office Mojo, the audience for the film continues to grow. It's currently in 174 theatres and has generated $1.3 million. Starring Julie Christie and Olympia Dukakis, it's the story of a woman's deterioration to Alzheimer's. Based on Alice Munro's short story.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on May 21, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

After five years at Sundance, programmer Roberta Munroe has put up a site letting us know that she is expanding her consulting business and offering some much sought after creative, development and marketing services to filmmakers.

She wants to help filmmakers realize their dreams. After watching over 10,000 shorts, several hundred features and making her own award winning short film (DANI AND ALICE - 2005), she can help make your film more successful.

According to Munroe, she can help in the following ways ...

• Learn the most common mistakes filmmakers make and how to avoid them.


• Make a short that actually gets accepted into festivals.


• Don't waste your money, time and energy — get your script as tight as possible before you shoot.


• Figure out the right length for your story and so much more.
  Whenever possible, get your rough cut critiqued by me before you lock picture.


• Strategize around which festivals to aim for before you spend hundreds of dollars on entry fees.

Posted by Cyndi Greening on February 20, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

BY JENIECE TORANZO MESA, ARIZONA— Director and screenwriter, Gina Kim, tells a story of a young woman (Sophie) played by Vera Farmiga, who is married to a wealthy Asian American (Andrew), played by David McInnis. Sophie has a difficult time getting pregnant and discovers how far she will go in order to have a child. In order to save her marriage, she begins a sexual relationship with an illegal immigrant from Korea (Jihah), played by Jung-woo Ha. Sophie then finds her true self while juggling between the two men, one that she loves and the other that she falls in love with. This movie was well shot and edited. The cinematography is just amazing along with the well thought out color scheme. The cast did such an amazing job in their performance in delivering a well scripted movie. You can feel the emotion and pain in each character as they learn to cope with the situations they are put in. I will let you know, for those who care, that this movie is based on a sexual relationship between Sophie and Jihah, which means, be prepared for a whole lotta sex happening. Overall, the storyline well thought out. The ending is controversial which makes it even more appealing. Be sure to check out the Q&A with the Director and some of the cast.

NEVER FOREVER   Post Screening Q&A

Posted by Cyndi Greening on February 12, 2007 | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

BY CYNDI GREENING & PAMELA BOWMAN, PHOENIX, USA – The FilmZambia project has been a life-altering, monumental experience for all who participated. It is because of the Zambian project that we (the producers) have come to realize and refine our life mission. We experienced such satisfaction and joy at helping to bring a new voice to the global cinema, in educating filmmaking students in Zambia, in watching our MCC students expand their skills and have profound cultural experiences. The goal of educating, developing and supporting new voices in global cinema continues to be one of our primary concerns.

However, after attending the Sundance Film Festival in January, we realized that we were overlooking the voices of U.S. filmmakers. We were inspired to expand our commitment to include finding and nurturing the voices of new filmmakers in the U.S. Attending the festival, we found our voice and are stating our desire to help storytellers and filmmakers find their unique voice and get their story into the national market.

So, we are pleased to announce the launch of Greening Productions / Angel&Wings Productions, a site devoted to supporting independent filmmakers worldwide. (You will have to read the story of how the company name was bestowed upon us in Zambia! Whle we don't make religious films, we are committed to doing good work.) On the site, you will find the dates and times for classes and seminars that will be offered in the Phoenix metro area. These classes will also be available in different national locations in the near future. In addition, we are making DVDs available to assist in your digital film development.

Wherever we traveled, people interested in film would pepper us with questions. Due to limited time, we felt we could not give adequate answers or explanations. Through these classes and products, we are now able to provide information and assistance to future filmmakers.

So enjoy the site and let us know what you think! If you have thoughts on other products and classes we could offer tha