News

News on a new adaptation of Hedda Gabler, a new film about the Kray brothers, and more.

Aspect on board for Hedda Gabler

Aspect Film has taken on worldwide sales rights to Matthew John’s new period drama adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play Hedda Gabler, currently in post. Rita Ramnani [pictured] takes the lead role, with the cast also including Jon-Paul Gates, Samantha Hunt, David Butler and Francisco Ortiz. Aspect Film’s Managing Director, Hugh Edwards said, “Matthew John has tackled an Ibsen classic with aplomb. To do so as a debutant director and achieve what he has deserves credit. John has pushed the envelope and it will be interesting to see the reaction from both Ibsen purists and newcomers to the Hedda Gabler story alike.” The film was shot at Maunsel House in Somerset, owned by Sir Benjamin Slade, who also executive produces the film.

ScreenLaunch backs Beck

Australia-based sales and distribution company ScreenLaunch is financing...

In this week's in production column, we speak with writer/director/actress Christina Beck about her Adrienne Shelly grant-winning film "Perfection," about the difficulties of moving to image-obsessed southern California. We also take a look at a fiction feature about a man who must deal with being a manager in the face of the financial crisis, a documentary about 80's hair band Quiet Riot, and a film about "The Next Cassavetes." Editors Note: ...

Director Christina Beck’s project, “Perfection” has been named the recipient of the Adrienne Shelly Directors Grant. Given in memory of actor and filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, the grant is a competitive award that provides a $5,000 unrestricted grant to a female director alumnus of Ifp’s Independent Filmmaker Labs. Funding is provided by the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. The 2009 grant recipient was announced Thursday night at the U.S. Premiere of “Serious Moonlight” in …...

New York-based IFP has chosen 10 narrative features, all in their rough-cut stage, to be part of its Filmmaker Lab, which runs for five days beginning Mondayunder the leadership of producers Scott Macaulay and Gretchen McGowan.

The mentorship program is designed for first features shot on budgets of less than $1 million.

The 2009 projects picked are "Au Pair Kansas," from director Jt O'Neal, producers Joan Jerkovich, Catherine A. McCabe & O'Neal and editor Brad Roszel; "City on a Hill" (director Amy Seimetz, producer Justin Barber, editor Adele Romanski); "The Imperialists Are Still Alive!" (director Zeina Durra, producer Vanessa Hope, editor Michael Taylor); "The Myth of Time" (director Miller "Jaguar X" Koepenick, producer Scorpion Hernandez, editors Koepenick & Hernandez); and "Perfection" (director Christina Beck, producer Annette Murphy and editor Rob Poswell).

Also selected are "Phasma Ex Machina," from director/editor Matt Osterman and producer Jennifer Kramer; "Postales" (director Josh Hyde, producers Clare Connelly, Dan Fischer,...