Thompson on Hollywood

LAFF: Destin Cretton Talks SXSW Grand Jury Winner 'Short Term 12,' Immaturity and the Mystery of Indie Film's Future (TRAILER)

Festivals

Destin Daniel Cretton talks his "Short Term 12," from Sundance winning short to SXSW Grand Jury prize-winning feature...

By Sophia Savage
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June 16, 2013 1:11 AM
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Now and Then: Remarkable New Doc 'La Camioneta,' a Masterful Miniature (TRAILER)

Reviews

Spotsylvania County, Virginia and Queztal City, Guatemala are separated by nearly 3,000 miles of road, and by what would seem, at first, an unbridgeable cultural distance. But in Mark Kendall's remarkable documentary "La Camioneta" -- a brilliant microhistory of our globalized world -- you're hard pressed to consider them anything but neighbors.

By Matt Brennan
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May 29, 2013 2:10 PM
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Cannes Interview: David Lowery Talks 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

Interviews

Writer-director David Lowery has been putting in his 10,000 hours over the past few years, working as an editor and cinematographer on many of his friends' micro-budget projects, as part of the growing multi-tasking barter indie culture. He's helped many of the geographically disparate friends he's met on the festival circuit with their films; he edited with director Shane Carruth the much-talked-about "Upstream Color," now in limited release. SXSW has championed the Texas filmmaker, playing his shorts and features; "Saint Nick" showed promise on a meager $12,000 budget.

By Anne Thompson
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May 17, 2013 8:07 PM
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'Borat' Co-Writer Dan Mazer's 'I Give it a Year' Acquired by Magnolia Pictures

News

Frequent Sacha Baron Cohen collaborator Dan Mazer has found a home at Magnolia Pictures for his feature film directorial debut, "I Give it a Year."

By Ryan Lattanzio
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April 2, 2013 12:00 PM
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SXSW Grand Jury Winner 'Short Term 12' Goes to Cinedigm, Plans Awards Push for Brie Larson

News

Cinedigm has snapped up all North American and Latin American rights to Destin Daniel Cretton's SXSW Grand Jury and Audience award winner "Short Term 12," starring Brie Larson as a troubled foster care worker. The company is eyeing a late summer release, with an awards push for its star, who gives a "career-defining performance," says Vincent Scordino, VP of Cinedigm theatrical acquisitions. "'Short Term 12' is exactly the kind of film we are looking to champion as we expand our theatrical presence."

By Beth Hanna
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March 28, 2013 1:47 PM
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Oscilloscope Nabs SXSW Documentary '12 O'Clock Boys' -- 'The Wire' Meets Cirque du Soleil

News

Oscilloscope Laboratories has picked up North American rights to Lofty Nathan's documentary "12 O'Clock Boys," which recently had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. The Boys of the title are an infamous dirt bike gang in Baltimore who take over major city streets with flashy stunts at high speeds, alluding the cops' "no chase" rule due to public safety measures. Trailer below.

By Beth Hanna
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March 26, 2013 12:24 PM
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SXSW 2013 Wrap: Best in Show, Disappointments and Four Takeaways from a Festival First-Timer

Festivals

I got the chance to attend the SXSW Film Festival for my first time this year, and was impressed with the enthusiastic and respectful vibe of the festival, the warm reception from Austin locals and out-of-town festival goers alike, and -- importantly! -- the films. Below, my four takeaways from covering SXSW, and my rundown of best of the fest, buzzy titles I missed, and disappointments.

By Beth Hanna
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March 19, 2013 1:27 PM
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SXSW Review: Secret Attraction Brews in Joe Swanberg's Funny and Sharply Observed 'Drinking Buddies'

Reviews

Joe Swanberg’s “Drinking Buddies,” which premiered in the Narrative Spotlight section at SXSW, is a portrait of individuals navigating the slippery slope of relationships, both romantic and platonic, and quietly, often hilariously nodding to the unspoken intersection of the two.

By Beth Hanna
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March 15, 2013 2:54 PM
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SXSW Review: Gorgeous, Meditative 'The Retrieval,' Starring Jury Award Winner Tishuan Scott (CLIP)

Reviews

Chris Eska’s beautifully made Civil War drama “The Retrieval,” which was awarded the SXSW Grand Jury Prize for lead actor Tishuan Scott’s performance, is a quietly stirring journey into America’s ravaged heartland of 1864. It follows three black men, two fully grown and one barely on the cusp of adolescence, as they walk North and navigate the complexities of survival, self-interest and slowly emerging friendship.

By Beth Hanna
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March 13, 2013 4:15 PM
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2013 SXSW Film Awards: 'Short Term 12' Takes Top Narrative Honors, 'William and the Windmill' Wins Documentary Feature

Festivals

The Grand Jury and Special Award winners of the 2013 SXSW Film Festival were revealed Tuesday in Austin. Destin Cretton's "Short Term 12," starring Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. as foster care workers dealing with their own troubled pasts, has taken the Narrative Feature prize, while Ben Nabors' "William and the Windmill," focusing on the author and subject of "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," has been awarded the Documentary prize.