Thompson on Hollywood

LAFF: 'Middle of Nowhere' Gets Two Standing Ovations; DuVernay & Cast Talk Black Films Reaching Audiences In A Meaningful Way [New Teaser]

Features

Ava DuVernay's "Middle of Nowhere" played to a full house and two standing ovations at its Gala screening at the LA Film Fest on June 20. The drama is honest and immersive, moving and sexy, funny and unexpected.

By Sophia Savage
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June 22, 2012 3:39 PM
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Weekend Preview: Must-See 'Invisible War'; 'Brave' for Gay Marriage Rights; 'Seeking a Friend' & 'Rome' Disappoint

Features

It's Summertime and the theaters are filling up. There's a varied selection of new releases, from studio pics "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "Brave" to excellent documentaries "The Invisible War" and "Kumaré"...

By Sophia Savage
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June 21, 2012 4:07 PM
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No Budget Film School Returns This August

News

Mark Stolaroff's nuts-and-bolts No Budget Film School class, "The Art & Science of No-Budget Filmmaking," is returning August 4-5 at Los Angeles' Raleigh Studios.

By Sophia Savage
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June 19, 2012 4:45 PM
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Sundance Selects Picks Up Mulloy's Cuban-Set Tribeca Winner 'Una Noche'

News

Lucy Mulloy's "Una Noche" has gone to Sundance Selects for North American distribution. The film debuted at Berlin, then Tribeca where it won Best New Narrative Director, Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature and Best Actor in a Narrative Feature for stars Dariel Arrechada and Javier Nuñez Florian. The film follows three Cuban teens (Anailin de la Rua de la Torre also stars) over the course of a day, highlighting the contrast between their poverty-stricken lives and tourists who visit.

By Sophia Savage
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May 31, 2012 2:28 PM
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FilmFunds Brings Filmmakers & Financiers Together, Names Jason Scoggins New CEO

News

Following in the footsteps of online film services such as Amazon Studios and Kickstarter, filmmaker platform FilmFunds is moving to expand its reach.

By Sophia Savage
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May 29, 2012 2:51 PM
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Submarine and Dakota Form Torpedo Pictures

News

Just what we need: more indie genre films. Indie seller Submarine Entertainment and Dakota Group Ltd. have formed the aptly named Torpedo Pictures -- a new indie label to produce low-budget, high-concept sci-fi, thriller and horror films. The label's fund will go towards projects in the $500,000 to $1.5+ million range, with a focus on emerging and established auteur directors and notable casts. Dakota will finance and Submarine will handle domestic and foreign rights.

By Anne Thompson
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May 22, 2012 1:55 PM
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Nirvana, Foo Fighter Frontman Dave Grohl to Direct "Sound City" Documentary

News

Dave Grohl, the famed frontman of Foo Fighters and drummer of Nirvana, will direct and produce a music documentary, "Sound City," on the legendary music studio. From the trailer - posted below - it already looks frenetic and chock full with self-congratulatory interviews. But for fans of the infamous recording studio...

By Maggie Lange
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May 3, 2012 4:35 PM
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55th San Francisco International Film Festival Announces Awards and Prizes at Golden Gate Awards Party

Festivals

While the Golden Gate Awards party was going on at the Rasselas Jazz Club and Restaurant on Fillmore, I was some 33 miles south, at the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto, watching Howard Hawks’ “A Girl in Every Port,” accompanied by Dennis James on the Mighty Wurlitzer...

By Meredith Brody
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May 3, 2012 4:32 PM
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Tribeca Takes So Yong Kim's 'For Ellen,' with Paul Dano, Jon Heder & Jena Malone

News

Writer-director So Yong Kim’s "For Ellen," which premiered at Sundance, goes to Tribeca Film for North American distribution. The film opens September 5 at NYC's Film Forum, followed by a limited theatrical and VOD release. Paul Dano plays a rock star who unknowingly gives away custody of his six-year-old daughter when he signs divorce papers from his estranged wife. Jon Heder and Jena Malone co-star.

By Sophia Savage
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May 1, 2012 1:02 PM
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Seattle Int'l Film Festival: Complete 2012 Lineup Includes Anderson, Shelton, Winterbottom, Meireilles, Polley

Festivals

The longest festival in the US, the Seattle International Film Festival boasts a record 24 world premieres for its 38th edition running May 17 - June 10, unspooling a total of 273 features and 187 shorts representing 75 countries. Among the films, 180 are currently without distribution.