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This year, with some mighty titles from the Maghreb evaluated alongside the rest of continental Africa, the competitive potential of the Middle East lineup handicapped here may seem a tad diminished. Nevertheless, the territory boasts a possible short-list contender in Palestinian helmer Elia Suleiman’s wry travelog “It Must Be Heaven,” which nabbed the international critics award at 2019 Cannes.

Back in 2003, Suleiman’s second feature, “Divine Intervention,” marked the first of 12 submissions made by Palestine over the years. During that time, the entries resulted in two nominations, both for films helmed by Hany Abu-Assad: “Paradise Now” (2005) and “Omar” (2013). Now, Suleiman, like Abu-Assad, is recognized as an elder statesman of Palestinian filmmaking as well as an accomplished auteur whose films continue to bear witness to the surreal and the absurd in Palestinian life at home and abroad. Although his work is better-known in Europe than in the U.S., “It Must Be Heaven...

Six rising actors from the Baltic region talk international ambitions.

Six rising actors from the Baltic region are eyeing film projects, TV opportunities and European agents following an intensive three-day talent initiative at the third edition of Black Nights Stars at the Black Nights Film Festival now taking place in Tallinn in Estonia.

German-Romanian actress Maria Dragus has a number of high-profile roles to her name in features including The White Ribbon, Mademoiselle Paradis and Mary Queen Of Scots. She emphasised the need to maintain visibility.

“Having done lots of work doesn’t mean that, in the future, you’ll always have work,...

A third works in progress category, a new masterclass strand and an increased focus on TV among additions.

The industry activities of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival have been steadily expanding in recent years with more sessions and an increase in international guests headed to the Estonian capital for the 2019 edition which starts today, November 25.

Remaining relatively small has proven one of Tallinn’s greatest advantages, according to Marge Liiske, managing director of Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event.

“Even French producers say it’s easier for them to approach French sales agents here than it is in Cannes,” she says.

Nancy Kwan, Lena Khan, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Tiffany Chu were honored with awards during the Asian World Film Festival, which took place Nov. 6-14.

In its fifth year, the Awff teamed up with the Snow Leopard Trust again to raise awareness for the endangered snow leopard and its ecosystem in the high mountains of Asia.

“The World of Suzie Wong” actor Kwan received the Awff Lifetime Achievement Award; Sanada, the Snow Leopard Outstanding Cinematic Achievement Award; Chu, the 2019 Snow Leopard Rising Star Award; and Khan took home the Awff American Red Cross/ Tiffany Circle Courage to Dream Award.

Additionally, Suium Sulaimanova accepted the inaugural Hollywood Foreign Press Association Snow Leopard Short Film award for her film “My Friend – My Enemy.”

Other winners of the festival were announced in a closing ceremony hosted by actor and co-founder of Asians in La Nancy Yoon. View the complete list of winners from the...

In the 5 weeks since its release, the gritty DC Comics' movie "Joker", starring Joaquin Phoenix, scored 31.8% of the 'Domestic' (North American) box office, earning $313,491,507. But international audiences, who seemed to delight in the depiction of Us cities as filthy, crime-ridden and corrupt, took 68.2% of the box office, earning $671,200,000 to date, for a massive worldwide total of $984,691,507:

During its opening, with undercover police officers assigned to theaters throughout North America, Warner Bros. issued a statement that the main character in the film, is Not a homicidal, sympathetic 'anti-hero', that could inspire copycat violence :

According to Warner Bros.

"Gun violence in our society is a critical issue, and we extend our deepest sympathy to all victims and families impacted by these tragedies. Our company has a long history of donating to victims of violence, including 'Aurora', and in recent weeks, our parent company joined other business leaders to...

Juanes moves easily between traditional and modern in his new single “Aurora,” which features his fellow Colombia native, rapper Crudo Means Raw.

“Aurora” opens with a stream of live-sounding percussion — maybe the start of a cumbia. That quickly gives way to a cleanly programmed beat, the type of thing that will do well on the radio, while Juanes adds terse lines on guitar and a bass snakes through a reggae-like pattern. Crudo Means Raw adds a low-key, conversational rap before Juanes’ final hook.

“Aurora” serves as a mainstream introduction of sorts for Crudo Means Raw.

The audience prize was won by Mika Kaurismäki’s Master Cheng.

Hlynur Pálmason’s second feature A White, White Day has won the top prize at Nordic Film Days in Lubeck in Germany.

The Ndr Film Prize includes a cash award of €12,500.

It is the second consecutive year an Icelandic film has won the award following Benedikt Erlingsson’s Woman At War win in 2018.

A White, White Day premiered at Cannes Critics’ Week and is a tale of grief and revenge, revolving around a former policeman in a small Icelandic town. International sales are handled by New Europe Film Sales...

Dok Leipzig’s International Golden Dove won by ‘Exemplary Behaviour’.

Hlynur Pálmason’s second feature A White, White Day has won the top prize at Nordic Film Days in Lubeck in Germany.

The Ndr Film Prize includes a cash award of €12,500.

It is the second consecutive year an Icelandic film has won the award following Benedikt Erlingsson’s Woman At War win in 2018.

A White, White Day premiered at Cannes Critics’ Week and is a tale of grief and revenge, revolving around a former policeman in a small Icelandic town. International sales are handled by New Europe Film Sales and...

Prior to Joker‘s release, after it had turned heads by picking up the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, there was a panic that it was somehow dangerous. Opinion columnists weighed in, arguing that it was irresponsible to release it as it may inspire violence, it was some kind of incel fantasy, and/or that it was insensitive when taking into account the 2012 Dark Knight Rises shooting in Aurora.

People who hadn’t seen the movie had pretty strong opinions about it and they were all left looking a bit silly when the film turned out to be a progressive critique of austerity and the importance of funding of mental health care. Still, I guess there were column inches to fill, so who can blame them?

Now, Warner Bros. Chairman Toby Emmerich has been quizzed about whether the studio had any second thoughts about releasing it. The Hollywood Reporter...

Queen of Hearts has already racked up an impressive list of prizes.

May el-Toukhy’s Danish drama Queen of Hearts won the prestigious and lucrative Nordic Council Film Prize 2019 last night (Oct 29) in Stockholm.

She shares the $52,000 award with screenwriter Maren Louise Käehne and producers Caroline Blanco and René Ezra.

Trine Dyrholm stars as Anne, a lawyer, mother and wife who begins a dangerous affair with her stepson (Gustav Lindh).

The jury said: “Is it about a midlife crisis? About class? Or about desire and passion? Is she a sex violator? Or a psychopath? We are used to movies serving a clear point,...

“Cinema is not about advertising or propaganda. Cinema is not about beauty or beautiful images. Cinema is about truth.”

So stated Romanian director Cristi Puiu, delivering a masterclass at the Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival.

A pioneer of the “Romanian New Wave” movement, Puiu won the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes for his film “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” (2005). His films “Aurora” (2010) and “Sieranevada” (2016) also played at Cannes.

Philosophical and contemplative, Puiu spoke out against filmmakers who “push an agenda” with “propaganda films.”

“The problem with propaganda films is that you are betraying yourself first as a human,” he cautioned. “If you are genuinely curious to find out who you are, you are going to leave this propaganda field.”

Truth, he added, is not something that filmmakers can articulate and reach – rather it is “like a destination for eternity.” He also explained that truth is difficult to achieve...

Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker” has become a certified box office sensation, earning $744 million in worldwide ticket sales after less than a month in theaters. Making that haul all the sweeter, Warner Bros., the studio behind the R-rated origin story about Batman’s nemesis, spent $62.5 million to finance the film, a fraction of what most comic-book adaptations cost.

That conservative budget, a figure that doesn’t include global marketing or distribution fees that sources estimate were north of $100 million, puts “Joker” on track to become one of the most profitable superhero movies in history.

“‘Joker’ is definitely having the last laugh,” said Jeff Bock, a senior media analyst with Exhibitor Relations. “You can’t buy a comic-book adaptation for that price, yet Warner Bros. pulled it off with good old-fashioned story telling.”

Given its dark themes and far more disturbing content than standard comic-book fare, Warner Bros.’ intentionally kept expenses low.

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is on track to give Disney another first place finish after scoring $12.5 million in Friday’s domestic ticket sales.

If estimates hold, the Angelina Jolie-led film should finish the weekend with about $38 million — well below earlier forecasts but enough to top holdover “Joker” and fellow newcomer “Zombieland: Double Tap.” That’s also significantly lower than its predecessor, 2014’s “Maleficent,” which opened to $69 million and went on to earn more than $750 million worldwide.

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” picks up where the first film left off, this time focusing on the mother-daughter strife between Maleficent and Aurora as the young princess gears up for her upcoming marriage. Joining Jolie for the sequel is Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville as well as newcomers Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Skrein and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Meanwhile, Sony’s “Zombieland: Double Tap”continues to battle it out for...

Over the last decade, Disney has found itself dipping increasingly into its own well of nostalgic favorites. Specifically, they’ve been taking their beloved animated classics, remaking them in live-action (or mostly live-action), and producing one blockbuster smash after another.

Not all of these live-action Disney remakes are good, and some of the bad ones have unexpectedly interesting ideas. And some of them actually predate the current (and seemingly never-ending) wave. Let’s take a look at all of the live-action remakes of Disney’s animated classics, going all the way back to the 1990s, to explore which films improved on the original and which ones came up short.

15. “The Jungle Book” (1994)

The first live-action Disney remake of an animated Disney classic is, somehow, still the worst. Stephen Sommers (“The Mummy”) directs this frustratingly inert take on Rudyard Kipling’s stories, which strips the animals of their characterizations and highlights...

When people talk about film as product instead of, say, art or entertainment, they’re referring to movies like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. This misbegotten sequel to 2014’s not-so-hot Maleficent is a torturous exercise in brightly-colored monotony that chokes on repetitive screenwriting, amateurish directing, paycheck performances and digital hardware for a heart. Kids under five (months) might be fooled, but sentient filmgoers know a scam when they see one.

Angelina Jolie is back in the title role with a performance that’s 90% frosty glare. But how in hell is Maleficent the Mistress of Evil?...

Bebe Rexha has dropped a video for her song “You Can’t Stop the Girl,” the female empowerment theme from Disney’s forthcoming “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”

Directed by Sophie Muller, the music video features scenes of Rexha reimagined as Maleficent and wandering through the film’s fantasy landscape, leading a marathon of women and snippets of the film. The variety of running women highlight body positivity, people with physical disabilities and racial diversity. Over the years Muller has directed videos for Beyoncé, Shakira, the Killers and No Doubt.

The wicked Disney sequel begins several years after the 2014 “Maleficent,” which retold the classic “Sleeping Beauty” from the perspective of the villain. The film follows the strained relationship between Princess Aurora (played by Elle Fanning “The Neon Demon”) and Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie) amidst Aurora’s upcoming wedding and emerging alliances in the magical realm.

Jolie, Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton,...

Every few years, the American public is stricken with a full-blown moral panic, and we’re in the midst of one now over Todd Phillips’ “Joker.” The paranoia that the movie will drive a lurking army of incels and troubled young men to fits of violence is not just pure fantasy. It also reflects a refusal to look at the real problems of our society — including untreated mental illness, endemic poverty and drug addiction.

This isn’t the first moral panic in America. In the 1950s, comic books were widely seen as dangerous to young minds, and psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham argued that comic books would drive children to lives of addiction and delinquency. The public was so captivated by Wertham’s subsequently debunked proclamations that the Comics Code Authority was created to censor comic books and enforce moral standards. It remained in operation until 2011.

At various times, Dungeons & Dragons,...

Every year since its creation in 1956, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) invites the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue and that was released theatrically in their respective countries between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2019.

Here are the Asian Submissions for Best Foreign Language Film. There are some excellent movies in this bunch and we have seen and reviewed already some of them.

Afghanistan

“Hava, Maryam, Ayesha” by Sahraa Karimi

Hava, Maryam, Ayesha

Armenia

“Lengthy Night” by Edgar Baghdasaryan

Lenghty Night

Bangladesh

“Alpha” by Nasiruddin Yousuff

Alpha

Cambodia

“In The Life of Music” by Caylee So and Sok Visal

In The Life of Music

China

“Ne Zha” by Jiaozi

Ne Zha

Georgia

“Shindisi...

I am the absolute last person to defend an attempt of a Hollywood studio, a superhero movie, or a director and actor so privileged they have the industry and all of its riches at their feet. The budgets of my four completed films range from $40,000 to $5,000,000 — and the budget of my current project hovers somewhere in between. I believe tentpoles have ruined American cinema and the glut of mediocre content in episodic television has made scrolling through titles often as interesting as watching the actual shows.

But I thought “Joker” was a near-masterpiece, an opera of raw, gritty emotion, a stunningly dark and artful gaze into the rich delusion of tragedy. It is not a perfect film, and — as some critics have said — it is dangerous, but it is entirely more dangerous to label it as some kind of call to arms for white rage in this country, or to...

Moviegoers who went to see “Joker” at the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Los Angeles got a big surprise on Saturday night when Joaquin Phoenix showed up for an unexpected Q&a session.

Dressed in a grey hoodie supporting the Animal Liberation Front — one of his longtime personal social causes — Phoenix went from theater to theater to say hello to fans and answer questions about his performance as Arthur Fleck, the mentally ill outcast of Gotham City who becomes the infamous Joker.

In the clip above, you can see Phoenix talk about the scene featured in the trailer where he dances on a set of stairs. He discusses how he worked with choreographer Michael Arnold on what has become the defining moment of the film.

Also Read: Does 'Joker' Have a Post-Credits Scene?

It was an interesting choice for Phoenix to pick Alamo Drafthouse as the site of his surprise appearance.

Weeks of controversial headlines aren’t getting in the way of a record-breaking weekend for Warner Bros.’ “Joker.”

After taking home $39.9 million in Friday domestic ticket sales — the biggest October opening day ever — the R-rated supervillain film is eyeing a huge $92 million weekend total.

That’s on the higher end of initial box office projections, which saw the film debuting in the $80 million to $95 million range. Either way, the film is likely to beat previous October opening weekend record holder “Venom,” which opened to $80.3 million last year.

“The Joker” has generated widespread controversy for its villainous depiction of evil, prompting some theaters to increase security. Additionally, family members of the 2012 Aurora shooting victims — a mass shooting that occurred at a screening of “The Dark Knight Rises — signed a letter to Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff expressing concerns about the film’s release. Although the families ultimately refrained from calling for...

With undercover police officers assigned to theaters throughout North America screening the new "Joker' movie, Warner Bros. is doubling down on their statement that the main character depicted in the film, played by Joaquin Phoenix ("Gladiator") is Not a homicidal, sympathetic 'anti-hero', that could inspire copycat violence :

According to Warner Bros.

"Gun violence in our society is a critical issue, and we extend our deepest sympathy to all victims and families impacted by these tragedies. Our company has a long history of donating to victims of violence, including 'Aurora', and in recent weeks, our parent company joined other business leaders to call on policymakers to enact bi-partisan legislation to address this epidemic.

"At the same time, Warner Bros. believes that one of the functions of storytelling is to provoke difficult conversations around complex issues.

"Make no mistake: neither the fictional character 'Joker', nor the film, is an...

Two disparate pop culture icons battle it out for supremacy.

Two pop culture icons battle for supremacy at the UK box office this weekend, as Todd Phillips’ Venice Golden Lion winner Joker through Warner Bros goes up against Rupert Goold’s Judy Garland biopic Judy which is released this through Pathé.

Phillips’ film has proved controversial since its victorious Venice premiere in August. The studio released a statement last week defending the film in response to parents of victims of the 2012 Aurora cinema shootings, who expressed concern over the film’s depiction of gun violence.

It stars Joaquin Phoenix – widely...

Todd Phillips’ Joker is a polarizing picture to say the least. Having only been screened at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals, the original origin story has drawn up as much controversy for its excessive violence as it has acclaim for its lead performance from Joaquin Phoenix.

We Got This Covered had the opportunity to speak with editor Jeff Groth – who’s worked with Phillips on both War Dogs and The Hangover Part III –about the world’s reaction to the film thus far, as well as Phoenix’s portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime, among other topics.

Be sure to check out our conversation down below and enjoy.

First of all, congratulations on the film. I did see it in Toronto, and if I have anything to say about it, I think it’s going to be quite a success for you guys. With that said, there...

Warner Bros. issued an official statement looking to get ahead of recent reports, that their main character depicted in the new "Joker" movie, played by Joaquin Phoenix ("Gladiator") is a homicidal, yet sympathetic 'anti-hero', that could inspire copycat violence :

According to Warner Bros.

"Gun violence in our society is a critical issue, and we extend our deepest sympathy to all victims and families impacted by these tragedies. Our company has a long history of donating to victims of violence, including 'Aurora', and in recent weeks, our parent company joined other business leaders to call on policymakers to enact bi-partisan legislation to address this epidemic.

"At the same time, Warner Bros. believes that one of the functions of storytelling is to provoke difficult conversations around complex issues.

"Make no mistake: neither the fictional character 'Joker', nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind.

"It...

Controversy has swirled around the grimy origins tale but Todd Phillips’ DC drama isn’t anywhere as shocking as it seems to think it is

There’s been an air of tense caution surrounding the upcoming release of Todd Phillips’ new film Joker, an apprehension eerily recalling the anarchy in Gotham following the clown criminal’s terrorist threats in The Dark Knight. Maybe it’s due to false memories of the Aurora shooter dressing up as the Joker (a bit of apocrypha since disproven) before opening fire on a screening of the follow-up, The Dark Knight Rises, in 2012, or maybe it’s due to the subject matter of a man on the edge finally snapping and going on a spree. Most likely due to a combination of the two, large swaths of the public share in a faint unease that the nationwide premiere may provide occasion for an act of mass violence.

“Joker” arrives in theaters this weekend following weeks of polarizing festival reviews and a pre-release backlash that included fears the film may inspire violence. But despite all that, box office analysts expect Todd Phillips’ Scorsese-inspired supervillain origin story to set a new opening weekend record for October.

The current record for the month was set last year by another comic book movie, Sony’s “Venom,” which earned an $80.2 million launch. That figure is the low end of independent tracker projections for Warner Bros./Village Roadshow/DC’s “Joker,” which currently range from $80-95 million. An opening in the middle of that range would put the movie alongside “Logan,” another R-rated superhero drama which opened to $88 million in March 2017.

Warner Bros. is projecting that “Joker” will fall just short of “Venom” with $75-80 million from 4,300+ screens, but even if the film fell well short and opened in the $60 million range — which...

In weeks leading up to its release, Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker” has inspired waves of stories and streams of tweets criticizing the R-rated comic-book adaptation for glamorizing a mass killer. Warner Bros., the studio behind the grisly origin story, is clearly in crisis mode, banning press from the red carpets at the film’s premieres, as they deal with outrage from families of the survivors of the Aurora movie theater shooting.

However, it doesn’t seem like the mounting controversy will deter most audiences from seeing Batman’s chief antagonist on the big screen. “Joker” is still on track for a massive debut and could earn $80 million to $95 million from 4,300 North American theaters.

Those estimates haven’t wavered much in the three weeks since projections first appeared on tracking services, though some bullish box office prognosticators believe “Joker” could even hit the coveted $100 million mark. Warner Bros. is anticipating a...

Angelina Jolie is again up to her wicked ways in “Maleficent Mistress of Evil.” But for the Oscar winner, playing the Disney villain is about a lot more than winged costumes and horns.

“It reminds me and I hope others that there’s a part of us that is just unbridled. We just have to be who we are. We can’t be less than what we are. We can’t be less honest. We can’t be less fierce,” Jolie told Variety. “We have to find ourselves and be free with it and be okay with it.”

Horn-wearing fans and reporters alike clamored to get close to the star on the red carpet outside the El Capitan Theatre on Monday night as Jolie reflected on how she relates to the character’s latest dilemma — parenting young adult Aurora (played by Elle Fanning).

“For Maleficent, considering she is the mistress of evil,...

Todd Phillips is hardly the first name most audiences would associate with the current run of dark, gritty comic book movies. Best known for comedy hits (and a few misses) like the “Hangover” trilogy, “Road Trip,” “Old School,” and the 2004 remake of “Starsky & Hutch,” Phillips has long trafficked in laughs with just the right amount of edgy appeal. He’s hardly the kind of guy to take on the violent origin story of one of contemporary entertainment’s most notorious villains. And yet, with his Joaquin Phoenix-starring “Joker,” he’s done just that. Why?

In a new interview with Vanity Fair (ostensibly centered around star Phoenix), the filmmaker opined about why he chose to move from broad comedies to something as dark as “Joker.” Turns out, he just couldn’t hang with the current culture. “Go try to be funny nowadays with this woke culture,” Phillips told Vf.

Disney has released a new sneak peek trailer for their upcoming animated film Frozen 2, and it features a new song called “Into the Unknown” which the kids are going to sing over and over and over again.

The song, which was written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, is beautifully sung by Elsa voice actress Idina Menzel. It was also announced that the soundtrack is available for pre-order now. I included the information on the soundtrack below the video and the new poster that was released!

Here’s the poster:

The Frozen 2 soundtrack is now available for digital pre-order, pre-save at Spotify and pre-add at Apple Music. The soundtrack also includes end credits songs by Panic! At The Disco, Kacey Musgraves, and Weezer. The original score is composed by Grammy nominee Christophe Beck. Here’s the track list:

“All is Found” – performed by Evan Rachel Wood

“Some Things Never Change” – performed by Kristen Bell,...

The soundtrack for Frozen 2, the Disney animated sequel to the studio’s 2013 mega-hit Frozen, is now available for pre-order. It will be released November 15th, shortly before the film hits theaters on November 22nd. The track list includes seven new original songs from the film’s powerhouse vocal cast, as well as three end-credit renditions from Kacey Musgraves, Panic! At the Disco and Weezer.

The new song titles include “All is Found,” “Some Things Never Change,” “Into the Unknown,” “When I Am Older,” “Lost in the Woods,” “Show Yourself” and “The Next Right Thing.

In the wake of the summer’s mass shootings, there’s plenty of concern surrounding the opening of Warner Bros.’ The Joker on Oct. 4, particularly as it’s poised to bring in a record amount of moviegoers for an October release.

Despite the Gilroy-Dayton-El Paso shootings, some sources in distribution and exhibition believe fears surrounding The Joker are over-heightened, especially with the Lapd issuing a statement tonight that it does not see any credible threats in the Los Angeles area regarding the pic’s opening.

Industry sources also tell us that the FBI and Homeland Security do not currently foresee looming threats related to the Todd Phillips-directed DC origin movie about the crazed Batman villain.

Said the Lapd tonight in a statement received by Deadline, “The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of public concerns and the historical significance associated with the premiere of the Joker. While there are...

The Lapd plans to increase its visibility at theaters when “Joker” opens next week, amid heightened law enforcement concern about the violent Warner Bros. film.

The department said it has not received any specific threats about the movie, but encouraged moviegoers to be vigilant.

“The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of public concerns and the historical significance associated with the premiere of ‘Joker,'” said department spokesman Josh Rubenstein. “While there are no credible threats in the Los Angeles area, the department will maintain high visibility around theaters when it opens.”

In 2012, a shooter killed 12 people and injured 70 others at a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colo. Families of some of the victims have raised concerns about “Joker,” in which Joaquin Phoenix plays the character as a depressed loner whose failures as a standup comic provoke a violent rampage.

Some critics have raised concerns about...

Yesterday, we reported that the Todd Phillips-directed film Joker is under fire with the recent report that the Aurora, Colorado movie theater that was under attack at the 2012 screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises will not be showing Joker, and five members of the victims families sent a letter to the CEO of Warner Bros. asking for support and a call to action against gun violence. A representative of WB responded to the letter which extended deepest sympathies, expressed support, and clarified that the film and the character should not be interpreted as “an endorsement of real-world violence.”

The director has now weighed in on the controversy and the claims that his film sympathizes with a villain whom they portray as a protagonist. In an interview that was tweeted out by APEntertainment, Phillips addressed the fears of the correlation between his film and inciting or glorifying violence...

Sadly, the main discussion surrounding the upcoming comic book film “Joker” is less to do with Joaquin Phoenix’s incredible performance and the film’s potential Oscar run, but instead focused on the movie potentially inspiring folks to commit violent acts, such as the ones seen in the film.

The discussion kicked into high gear this week after an open letter was sent to WB from people associated with victims of the Aurora killings in 2012 and emails sent out from the Us military warning soldiers to be on alert during screenings.

Continue reading Regal Cinemas Talks ‘Joker’ Screening Saftey & Doesn’t Believe A Film Can Be “A Cause Or Signal For Violence” at The Playlist.

Director Todd Phillips is pushing back on recent criticism that his upcoming film “Joker,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, might promote real-world violence.

“We didn’t make the movie to push buttons,” Phillips told TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman in an interview last Friday about the filmmaking process. “I literally described to Joaquin at one point in those three months as like, ‘Look at this as a way to sneak a real movie in the studio system under the guise of a comic book film’. It wasn’t, ‘We want to glorify this behavior.’ It was literally like ‘Let’s make a real movie with a real budget and we’ll call it f–ing Joker’. That’s what it was. “

But the movie, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August and received an eight-minute standing ovation, is already kicking up controversy for its dark tone. The plot focuses on an irredeemable villain who escapes punishment.

The U.S. military has sent a memo to service members warning about the possibility of incel violence targeting screenings of Warner Bros.’ upcoming comic book movie “Joker.” No specific attacks or credible threats have been determined, but the military is upping awareness for its service members. The Army confirmed Tuesday, September 24 with io9 reporter Dell Cameron that FBI officials contacted them to say they uncovered social media posts related to incel extremists who are referencing on social media violent attacks at “Joker” screenings. The Army’s memo classifies “incels” as “individuals who express frustration from perceived disadvantages to starting intimate relationships.”

The memo informs service members that “incel extremists idolize violent individuals like the Aurora movie theater shooter. They also idolize the Joker character, the violent clown from the Batman series, admiring his depiction as a man who must pretend to be happy, but eventually fights back against his bullies.

The U.S. Army Base at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, has warned commanders of a potential threat of violence at an upcoming showing of Warner Bros.’ “Joker,” citing an intelligence bulletin about “a credible potential mass shooting to occur at an unknown movie theater.”

The memo, sent on Monday, became public after it was later posted to a Facebook page popular with enlisted Air Force personnel, Stars and Stripes reported. It cites an intelligence bulletin posted by the Travis County, Texas, sheriff’s office working with the local FBI field office, which it says discovered “disturbing and very specific chatter on the dark web.”

“Commanders need to be aware of this threat for Soldier and family safety and to increase situational awareness should they choose to attend the release of this movie,” the memo says.

Also Read: 'Abominable' Will Try to Draw Families to Theaters While 'Joker' Looms

The...

‘Gun violence in our society is a critical issue, and we extend our deepest sympathy to all victims and families impacted by these tragedies.’

Warner Bros on Tuesday (24) responded to parents of victims in the 2012 Aurora cinema shootings in the Us who have expressed concern over the upcoming release of Joker.

Todd Phillips’ Venice Golden Lion-winning film starring Oscar contender Joaquin Phoenix earned acclaim after it premiered on the Lido. Yet the origins story of one the most notorious supervillains in comic book lore – frequently portrayed on screen – has also drawn attention for scenes depicting gun violence.

Ahead of the...

Joaquin Phoenix has full trust in movie audiences to know what’s right and wrong ahead of the release of his upcoming movie, Joker.

The actor is the latest to portray the disturbed titular villain in Todd Phillip’s movie, which is being hailed both beautiful for its artistry and warned as “dangerous” for its depiction of a murderous character.

“Well, I think that, for most of us, you’re able to tell the difference between right and wrong,” he said at a press conference for Joker, according to IGN. “And those that aren’t are capable of interpreting anything...

Warner Bros. is standing by the release of “Joker” in the wake of accusations the movie will encourage violence. The studio issued a statement defending the movie several hours after family members of the Aurora, Colorado shooting victims sent a letter to the studio expressing concerns over the upcoming release. The letter also urged the studio to support anti-gun laws as it continues to promote the Venice-winning comic book movie. Warner Bros. maintains “Joker” is not an “endorsement of real-world violence,” nor has the movie been designed to turn its title character (played by Joaquin Phoenix) into a hero.

The full statement from Warner Bros. reads: “Gun violence in our society is a critical issue, and we extend our deepest sympathy to all victims and families impacted by these tragedies. Our company has a long history of donating to victims of violence, including Aurora, and in recent weeks, our parent...

Warner Bros. has weighed in on the mounting controversy surrounding “Joker,” an R-rated comic book adaptation that is being criticized for offering an in-depth portrait of a mass killer. In a statement on Tuesday, the studio hit back at suggestions that it is glamorizing a mass murderer.

“Make no mistake: neither the fictional character Joker, nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind,” the statement reads. “It is not the intention of the film, the filmmakers or the studio to hold this character up as a hero.”

Warner Bros. broke its silence after family members and friends of the victims of a 2012 mass shooting at a screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colo., wrote a letter to the studio expressing concerns about the film’s upcoming release. The letter supported the studio’s right to make the film and endorsed freedom of speech and artistic expression.

David Crow Sep 24, 2019

Joker will not screen in the Aurora movie theater that was targeted by a shooter during the opening weekend of The Dark Knight Rises.

Warner Bros. and Cinemark have agreed not to screen Joker at an Aurora movie theater that was the site of a national tragedy in 2012. The news came from a joint announcement which confirmed that the upcoming Joaquin Phoenix-led film will not play at a theater now named the Cinemark Aurora (it was called the Cinemark 16 in 2012), which was where The Dark Knight Rises mass shooting occurred in 2012.

That shooting, which was targeted for its popular midnight screening of the latest Batman movie, left 12 people dead and another 70 wounded. The news comes after multiple families of Aurora victims released an open letter to Ann Sarnoff, WB CEO and chairperson, as well as several Hollywood trades that requested WB use their platform as a...

Warner Bros.’ The Joker will not be playing at the Cinemark Aurora theater where the 2012 Dark Knight Rises mass shooting took place, killing 12 and wounding 70.

We understand that this is a decision that was mutually made by both the studio and Cinemark which owned the Century 16, now known as the Century Aurora and Xd.

The Joker in its story of a disturbed man who gets possession of a gun and uses it has some awful echoes for five people of the 300-plus Aurora, Colorado victim base, especially in the wake of several mass shootings this summer in Gilroy, CA; El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. The Joker won high praise coming out of its fall film festival run, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, along with awards buzz for Joaquin Phoenix’s turn as the Batman villain. On tracking, Joker could potentially open to a domestic October box office record of $80M-plus.

Family members of victims of the 2012 mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, have sent a letter to Warner Bros. ahead of the release of next month’s R-rated “Joker” movie asking for a donation to gun-victim charities and advocacy for gun reform.

The letter was signed by five family members and sent Tuesday to Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“When we learned that Warner Bros. was releasing a movie called ‘Joker’ that presents the character as a protagonist with a sympathetic origin story, it gave us pause,” the letter says, noting the “absolute hell” that they had endured since a gunman shot and killed 12 people during a screening of Warner Bros.’ “Dark Knight Rises.”

Also Read: 'Newtown' Filmmakers Boycott Cinemark in Support of Aurora Shooting Victims

“We are calling on you to be a part of the growing chorus of...

Maria Pirkkalainen now heads the Helsinki event, which attracted 400 industry attendees.

The Finnish Film Affair wraps today with its best project award going to Oasis Of Now, the debut feature of Finnish-Iranian director and screenwriter Hamy Ramezan. The story follows a family seeking asylum in Finland, and Shahab Hosseini will lead the cast.

Jussi Rantamäki and Emilia Haukka of Aamu Film Company will produce; the company’s credits include Cannes award-winner The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki. The best project prize comes with a cash award of €3000 ($3320) to support the film’s international marketing.

“The film has...

Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro and Costa Rica are the latest countries to announce their entries for the newly rebranded International Feature Film award at the 92nd Academy Awards. All four countries are seeking their first Oscar nomination in what was formerly known as the foreign-language film category.

Latvia has selected Holocaust drama “The Mover” (pictured) as its entry for the award. It is the 12th time Latvia has submitted an entry. Director Davis Simanis Jr.’s film was created to mark Latvia centennial celebrations and was chosen by a seven-person panel on behalf of Latvia’s National Film Center.

Produced by Mistrus Media, “The Mover” tells the story of Zanis Lipke, a blue-collar worker honored for his heroic deeds during World War II. Despite his family’s hardship under German and Soviet occupations, Lipke embarked on a covert operation to save local Jews from Nazi persecution and certain death, moving them...

Kyrgyzstan has selected Bekzat Pirmatov's Aurora as its submission for the best international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.

Aurora tells the story of a sanatorium located on the shores of the high mountainous lake Issyk-Kul in Central Asia. A peaceful resort against the backdrop of beautiful nature, the sanatorium serves as a mirror of the entire country of Kyrgyzstan. A sudden break of the balance between time and space triggers a chain of irreversible events.

Aurora is Pirmatov's debut feature. The film premiered at last year's Busan International Film Festival.

Aurora is Kyrgyzstan's 12th submission in ...

Writer/director Drake Doremus debuts his latest picture, “Endings, Beginnings,” at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival. The film centers on a young woman (Shailene Woodley) navigating love and heartbreak over the course of one year while confronting the pain of a recent traumatic experience, and finding hope in the most surprising of places.

Your films are driven by the intimacy of the characters. Where did this story derive from?

I want to make stuff that I want to see, and I’m interested in relationships and momentary feelings that people experience. This is my most personal film since “Like Crazy” as I’d just gotten out of a six- year relationship before I started to work on the script. Life very much informs your own work, and you have to be ready to take an introspective look at the truth of your current situation, which can be cathartic.

What will surprise people about this film?...