A tribute to the Nordic film industry’s resilience, four Nordic titles have made it through to Cannes’ Official Selection. And unlike previous years, when Denmark or Sweden (Rüben Östlund) drew most of the worldwide attention, audiences should watch out for new and established voices from Norway, Finland and Iceland.
“Compartment No. 6”
Juho Kuosmanen’s sophomore feature marks Finland’s return to competition after a decade away (the previous Finnish film in competition was Aki Kaurismäki’s “Le Havre”). The Finnish director won Un Certain Regard back in 2016 with his black-and- white debut, “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki.” The story of a young Finnish student and a misanthropic Russian miner who share a journey along the Soviet Union’s trans-Siberian railway in the late 1980s, “Compartment No. 6” stars Seidi Haarla, one of the Berlinale’s 10 Shooting Stars.
“The Gravedigger’s Wife”
Finland makes history this year...
“Compartment No. 6”
Juho Kuosmanen’s sophomore feature marks Finland’s return to competition after a decade away (the previous Finnish film in competition was Aki Kaurismäki’s “Le Havre”). The Finnish director won Un Certain Regard back in 2016 with his black-and- white debut, “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki.” The story of a young Finnish student and a misanthropic Russian miner who share a journey along the Soviet Union’s trans-Siberian railway in the late 1980s, “Compartment No. 6” stars Seidi Haarla, one of the Berlinale’s 10 Shooting Stars.
“The Gravedigger’s Wife”
Finland makes history this year...
- 7/9/2021
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
In a boost to cinemas, Roadshow’s local comedy-drama Rams has posted the third highest opening weekend post-covid, behind only Tenet and After We Collided.
Opening on 298 screens and earning $809,177 ($1.27 million with previews), Roadshow CEO Joel Pearlman has touted the result, arguing it proves Australian audiences are enthusiastic to return to cinemas.
A reimagining of 2015 Icelandic drama Hrútar, Jeremy Sims’ directs the Michael Caton and Sam Neill-starrer which follows two estranged brothers as they raise separate flocks of sheep descended from their family’s prized bloodline. When a rare disease threatens their stock, they have to work together to save their sheep, their small town and their family’s legacy.
Over the weekend, Neill was nominated for the Aacta Award Best Lead Actor for his performance. The supporting cast includes Miranda Richardson, Wayne Blair, Leon Ford, Travis McMahon, Asher Keddie, Hayley McElhinney, Kipan Rothbury and newcomers Asher Yasbincek and Will McNeill.
Opening on 298 screens and earning $809,177 ($1.27 million with previews), Roadshow CEO Joel Pearlman has touted the result, arguing it proves Australian audiences are enthusiastic to return to cinemas.
A reimagining of 2015 Icelandic drama Hrútar, Jeremy Sims’ directs the Michael Caton and Sam Neill-starrer which follows two estranged brothers as they raise separate flocks of sheep descended from their family’s prized bloodline. When a rare disease threatens their stock, they have to work together to save their sheep, their small town and their family’s legacy.
Over the weekend, Neill was nominated for the Aacta Award Best Lead Actor for his performance. The supporting cast includes Miranda Richardson, Wayne Blair, Leon Ford, Travis McMahon, Asher Keddie, Hayley McElhinney, Kipan Rothbury and newcomers Asher Yasbincek and Will McNeill.
- 11/2/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
In today’s Global Bulletin Vivendi’s 2020 finances are up 2.4%, the Young Artist Academy announces this year’s award recipients, All3Media picks up “A World of Calm,” West End Films sells “Rams” in key territories and Fremantle promotes Seb Shorr.
Finance
In a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic, Vivendi saw its consolidated revenues go up by 2.4% to €11.6 billion ($13.7 billion) during the first nine months of 2020, and up 1.3 % during the third quarter.
The group’s subscription-based activities, especially at Universal Music Group and to a lesser extent Canal Plus Group, have bolstered Vivendi’s revenues. Canal Plus Group’s revenues were up 6.6% for the first nine months of 2020 and up 7.3% for the third quarter of 2020. The company’s international activities grew a strong pace with revenues from international operations rising by 27.4%. The addition of 1.2 million subscribers around the world, and the integration of M7, a leading pay-tv company in Europe...
Finance
In a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic, Vivendi saw its consolidated revenues go up by 2.4% to €11.6 billion ($13.7 billion) during the first nine months of 2020, and up 1.3 % during the third quarter.
The group’s subscription-based activities, especially at Universal Music Group and to a lesser extent Canal Plus Group, have bolstered Vivendi’s revenues. Canal Plus Group’s revenues were up 6.6% for the first nine months of 2020 and up 7.3% for the third quarter of 2020. The company’s international activities grew a strong pace with revenues from international operations rising by 27.4%. The addition of 1.2 million subscribers around the world, and the integration of M7, a leading pay-tv company in Europe...
- 10/21/2020
- by Jamie Lang and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
‘High Ground’.
With Melbourne cinemas closed and most of those still in operation averaging capacities of 10 – 20 per cent, Madman Entertainment sensibly has decided to release Stephen Johnson’s High Ground next year.
The 1930s-set drama, which stars Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Jack Thompson, Callan Mulvey, Aaron Pedersen, Caren Pistorius and Ryan Corr, was originally slated to open on July 9.
It will join a number of other Aussie titles dated for 2021, including Glendyn Ivin’s Penguin Bloom (January 1) and Robert Connolly’s The Dry (April 8), both Roadshow releases.
Inspired by true events, scripted by Chris Anastassiades and produced by Maggie Miles, Yothu Yindi co-founder Witiyana Marika, Johnson, David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, High Ground has its world premiere in the Berlinale Special screenings section of the Berlin International Film Festival.
“High Ground obviously has had its trajectory post-Berlinale world premiere impacted by Covid-19,” Madman MD Paul Wiegard tells If.
“With...
With Melbourne cinemas closed and most of those still in operation averaging capacities of 10 – 20 per cent, Madman Entertainment sensibly has decided to release Stephen Johnson’s High Ground next year.
The 1930s-set drama, which stars Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Jack Thompson, Callan Mulvey, Aaron Pedersen, Caren Pistorius and Ryan Corr, was originally slated to open on July 9.
It will join a number of other Aussie titles dated for 2021, including Glendyn Ivin’s Penguin Bloom (January 1) and Robert Connolly’s The Dry (April 8), both Roadshow releases.
Inspired by true events, scripted by Chris Anastassiades and produced by Maggie Miles, Yothu Yindi co-founder Witiyana Marika, Johnson, David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, High Ground has its world premiere in the Berlinale Special screenings section of the Berlin International Film Festival.
“High Ground obviously has had its trajectory post-Berlinale world premiere impacted by Covid-19,” Madman MD Paul Wiegard tells If.
“With...
- 7/22/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Rams.’
Opening on 250-plus screens on August 27, the day after its CinefestOZ premiere at Orana Cinemas in Busselton, Jeremy Sims’ Rams will be the first Australian wide release since cinemas re-opened.
Claire Gandy, Event Cinemas general manager, film and content, has seen the movie starring Michael Caton, Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson and is super confident of its commercial prospects.
“The audiences are going to be 100 per cent behind Rams and many of the other upcoming Australian films,” Gandy said in a webinar with Screen Producers Australia CEO Matt Deaner.
“We forget what it’s like to watch a great Australian film in cinema. There are some great scenes in Rams which on a big screen are going to look fantastic. I look forward to the celebration of Australian film, whenever that may start.”
Produced by Aidan O’Bryan and Janelle Landers, the Roadshow release, a remake of a cult Icelandic...
Opening on 250-plus screens on August 27, the day after its CinefestOZ premiere at Orana Cinemas in Busselton, Jeremy Sims’ Rams will be the first Australian wide release since cinemas re-opened.
Claire Gandy, Event Cinemas general manager, film and content, has seen the movie starring Michael Caton, Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson and is super confident of its commercial prospects.
“The audiences are going to be 100 per cent behind Rams and many of the other upcoming Australian films,” Gandy said in a webinar with Screen Producers Australia CEO Matt Deaner.
“We forget what it’s like to watch a great Australian film in cinema. There are some great scenes in Rams which on a big screen are going to look fantastic. I look forward to the celebration of Australian film, whenever that may start.”
Produced by Aidan O’Bryan and Janelle Landers, the Roadshow release, a remake of a cult Icelandic...
- 7/21/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Premiering in 2015 at Cannes Film Festival, where it picked up the Prix Un Certain Regard, Grímur Hákonarson’s Rams is an emotional, formally striking look at estranged brothers surviving as sheep farmers in the harsh climate of Iceland. The country’s Oscar contender, the English-language remake rights quickly got snatched up and now it looks like the film is complete as it is on display for buyers on the Cannes market.
Directed by Jeremy Sims, the remake stars Sam Neill and Michael Caton, and the first trailer has now arrived. Seemingly taking on the same plot, the tone here seems to swing a little more upbeat and palatable, which isn’t necessarily a surprise considering the hope for a wider audience than the original.
Also starring Miranda Richardson, Asher Keddie, and Hayley McElhinney, see the first trailer below via ScreenDaily.
Rams (the remake) does not currently have U.S. distribution.
Directed by Jeremy Sims, the remake stars Sam Neill and Michael Caton, and the first trailer has now arrived. Seemingly taking on the same plot, the tone here seems to swing a little more upbeat and palatable, which isn’t necessarily a surprise considering the hope for a wider audience than the original.
Also starring Miranda Richardson, Asher Keddie, and Hayley McElhinney, see the first trailer below via ScreenDaily.
Rams (the remake) does not currently have U.S. distribution.
- 6/23/2020
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
"Smells like sheep!" West End Films has debuted an official promo trailer for Rams, the English-language remake of the award-winning Icelandic film of the same name from 2015. This Australian remake stars Sam Neill and Michael Caton as sheep farmers, and as brothers who don't like each other and haven't talked to each other in 40 years. When a livestock disease hits their farms, the local townspeople bond together trying to figure out the right way to survive. Also starring Miranda Richardson, Asher Keddie, and Hayley McElhinney. The original film from Iceland is fantastic, and it's always a bit sad to see them remake it in exactly the same way, but this looks like it has the same awkward charm. Plus it's Sam Neill! Seems like the perfect role for him, he already lives with all kinds of farm animals. Actually looks like a worthwhile remake. Here's the first official promo trailer for Jeremy Sims' Rams,...
- 6/23/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Sam Neill and Michael Caton star.
Screen can exclusively reveal the first international trailer for Rams, Jeremy Sims’ English-language remake of Grímur Hákonarson’s 2015 Icelandic hit.
WestEnd Films is handling worldwide sales, and is screening the Australian film during next week’s Cannes online market, which runs from June 22-26.
Rams stars Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) and Michael Caton (The Animal) in the story of a decades-long feud between two sheep farming brothers which comes to a head when disaster strikes their flocks.
Miranda Richardson, Asher Keddie, and Hayley McElhinney are also in the cast. Jules Duncan adapted the script,...
Screen can exclusively reveal the first international trailer for Rams, Jeremy Sims’ English-language remake of Grímur Hákonarson’s 2015 Icelandic hit.
WestEnd Films is handling worldwide sales, and is screening the Australian film during next week’s Cannes online market, which runs from June 22-26.
Rams stars Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) and Michael Caton (The Animal) in the story of a decades-long feud between two sheep farming brothers which comes to a head when disaster strikes their flocks.
Miranda Richardson, Asher Keddie, and Hayley McElhinney are also in the cast. Jules Duncan adapted the script,...
- 6/19/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
HBO’s NFL docuseries for the first time will feature two teams, and they share the same city: The Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.
Additionally, HBO renewed the series for an additional four years, which will take it through 2024. The franchise has been on HBO since 2001.
The Rams were previously featured on the docuseries in 2016, the franchise’s first year back in L.A. after spending 20 years in St. Louis. This will be the first time the Chargers will get the “Hard Knocks” treatment. Both teams are set to move into the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. this season, provided the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t mess up those plans. The new season will debut on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Also Read: NFL to Observe Juneteenth as a Holiday, Will Close Offices
“NFL Films cherishes the relationship we’ve had with HBO for over four decades, and specifically with the ‘Hard Knocks...
Additionally, HBO renewed the series for an additional four years, which will take it through 2024. The franchise has been on HBO since 2001.
The Rams were previously featured on the docuseries in 2016, the franchise’s first year back in L.A. after spending 20 years in St. Louis. This will be the first time the Chargers will get the “Hard Knocks” treatment. Both teams are set to move into the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. this season, provided the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t mess up those plans. The new season will debut on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Also Read: NFL to Observe Juneteenth as a Holiday, Will Close Offices
“NFL Films cherishes the relationship we’ve had with HBO for over four decades, and specifically with the ‘Hard Knocks...
- 6/18/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
‘H is for Happiness’, previously supported by the Warff.
The Western Australian Government has topped up the state’s regional film fund with a further $16 million over the next four years.
Screenwest will administer the Wa Screen Fund, designed to encourage production in regional areas, boost local economies and drive tourism.
The funds come via the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
First launched in 2016, the Warff has helped to drive an upswing in production in Wa in recent years.
Among the projects the fund has backed are both seasons of Bunya Productions’ ABC drama Mystery Road, Lingo Pictures’ Upright, Komixx Entertainment’s children’s series Itch, docuseries Aussie Gold Hunters, as well as films such as Gregor Jordan’s Dirt Music, Simon Baker’s Breath, Jeremy Sims’ Rams, Owen Trevor’s Go!, Ben Elton’s Three Summers and John Sheedy’s H is for Happiness.
The new fund...
The Western Australian Government has topped up the state’s regional film fund with a further $16 million over the next four years.
Screenwest will administer the Wa Screen Fund, designed to encourage production in regional areas, boost local economies and drive tourism.
The funds come via the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
First launched in 2016, the Warff has helped to drive an upswing in production in Wa in recent years.
Among the projects the fund has backed are both seasons of Bunya Productions’ ABC drama Mystery Road, Lingo Pictures’ Upright, Komixx Entertainment’s children’s series Itch, docuseries Aussie Gold Hunters, as well as films such as Gregor Jordan’s Dirt Music, Simon Baker’s Breath, Jeremy Sims’ Rams, Owen Trevor’s Go!, Ben Elton’s Three Summers and John Sheedy’s H is for Happiness.
The new fund...
- 6/17/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
NBC is the latest broadcast network (following CBS, Fox and The CW) to unveil its coronavirus-delayed game plan for the 2020-21 TV season, and, like CBS, the Peacock network is taking a business-as-usual approach
More from TVLine30 Rock to Return to NBC for One-Hour Revival Special and Upfront EventThe Voice: Gwen Stefani Returning for Season 19 -- Which Coach Is Leaving?Law & Order: Svu Spinoff Burning Q: What 'Devastating Personal Loss' Will Stabler Experience in Organized Crime?
NBC’s pandemic-era fall slate boasts 16 returning programs, including Sunday Night Football (which kicks off with Cowboys/Rams on Sept. 13), the top-rated This Is Us and its #OneChicago trifecta.
More from TVLine30 Rock to Return to NBC for One-Hour Revival Special and Upfront EventThe Voice: Gwen Stefani Returning for Season 19 -- Which Coach Is Leaving?Law & Order: Svu Spinoff Burning Q: What 'Devastating Personal Loss' Will Stabler Experience in Organized Crime?
NBC’s pandemic-era fall slate boasts 16 returning programs, including Sunday Night Football (which kicks off with Cowboys/Rams on Sept. 13), the top-rated This Is Us and its #OneChicago trifecta.
- 6/16/2020
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Elisabeth Moss has already delivered one of the year’s best performances thanks to her work in “The Invisible Man,” which debuted in theaters and hit Pvod in March. Now Moss is set to add another towering performance to the list with the upcoming summer release of Josephine Decker’s “Shirley.” The film is based on the novel of the same name by Susan Scarf Merrell and marks Decker’s return after earning raves for “Madeline’s Madeline.” Decker directs from a script by Sarah Gubbins.
The official synopsis reads: “Fred (Lerman) and Rose (Young) move to a small Vermont college town in pursuit of a job for Fred as an assistant professor of literature. The young couple receives an offer for free room and board from professor Stanley Hyman (Stuhlbarg), as long as Rose agrees to spend time cleaning up the home and looking after his wife, acclaimed horror author...
The official synopsis reads: “Fred (Lerman) and Rose (Young) move to a small Vermont college town in pursuit of a job for Fred as an assistant professor of literature. The young couple receives an offer for free room and board from professor Stanley Hyman (Stuhlbarg), as long as Rose agrees to spend time cleaning up the home and looking after his wife, acclaimed horror author...
- 5/8/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
"Listen patiently... We, who are the last men, earnestly desire to communicate with you." Films Boutique has released the first promo teaser for the experimental feature Last and First Men, which is premiering at the Berlin Film Festival this month. This is the only feature film directed by iconic Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, who made this before he died in 2018. Featuring narration by Tilda Swinton. This feature is a repackaged version of the video Jóhannsson made for his touring concerts, inspired by Dutch photographer Jan Kempenaers' 2010 art book "Spomenik" about oddly shaped war monuments. It was shot on 16mm B&w film by acclaimed Norwegian cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlen. Indiewire describes this as "Jóhannsson’s own artistic riff on the avant-garde style of Koyaanisqatsi," although it seems to be something else quite unique. There's not much to this teaser so far, but have a look anyway. I am certainly curious...
- 2/19/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Drama based on Erlend Loe’s Norwegian novel, ‘Muleum’.
HBO Europe has greenlit eight-part drama Kamikaze, marking its first Danish original series.
Based on Erlend Loe’s Norwegian novel, Muleum, the series will be produced by Ditte Milsted from Copenhagen-based Profile Pictures with a script by Johanne Algren, who wrote Sundance 2018 feature Holiday.
All episodes will be directed by Annette K Olesen, who has helmed episodes of Sandi-noir series Borgen and features including Minor Mishaps, In Your Hands and Little Soldier, all of which played in competition at Berlin.
The story centres on an 18-year-old girl who embarks on a...
HBO Europe has greenlit eight-part drama Kamikaze, marking its first Danish original series.
Based on Erlend Loe’s Norwegian novel, Muleum, the series will be produced by Ditte Milsted from Copenhagen-based Profile Pictures with a script by Johanne Algren, who wrote Sundance 2018 feature Holiday.
All episodes will be directed by Annette K Olesen, who has helmed episodes of Sandi-noir series Borgen and features including Minor Mishaps, In Your Hands and Little Soldier, all of which played in competition at Berlin.
The story centres on an 18-year-old girl who embarks on a...
- 12/4/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Antony Partos.
The Australian Guild of Screen Composers (Agsc) has advised its members to be wary of signing deals which ask them to reinvest 50 per cent or more of their fees.
These deals can be a trap for composers due to the low chances of recoupment and because they are liable to be taxed on their full investment while receiving a only fraction of the actual amount, the guild warns.
Observing there has been a substantial increase in the number of reinvestment deals being offered to screen composers, usually for low budget productions, the Agsc tells If: “ We have received multiple enquiries from members who are concerned about being asked to reinvest a major portion of their fee back into the production. This is not, and never was, standard practice for Australian screen composers.”
According to the guild, one composer reported: “We are being offered deals with no choice but...
The Australian Guild of Screen Composers (Agsc) has advised its members to be wary of signing deals which ask them to reinvest 50 per cent or more of their fees.
These deals can be a trap for composers due to the low chances of recoupment and because they are liable to be taxed on their full investment while receiving a only fraction of the actual amount, the guild warns.
Observing there has been a substantial increase in the number of reinvestment deals being offered to screen composers, usually for low budget productions, the Agsc tells If: “ We have received multiple enquiries from members who are concerned about being asked to reinvest a major portion of their fee back into the production. This is not, and never was, standard practice for Australian screen composers.”
According to the guild, one composer reported: “We are being offered deals with no choice but...
- 11/13/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Sam Neill in ‘Ride Like A Girl’.
Actor, writer, producer and director Sam Neill has been named the recipient of the 2019 Equity New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Award, after being nominated by the Equity board and other Kiwi performers.
“Sam’s career as an actor is remarkable, but what makes this award so special is that it recognises much more than career success,” says Equity Nz president Jennifer Ward-Lealand.
“It acknowledges those members of our industry who give back at every opportunity, who strive to use their influence for important causes and who continually inspire their peers with their good will and humility. Sam leads by example. This award pays tribute to who he is as a person, as much it does his extraordinary talent.”
Neill joined Equity in 1979, and has more than 75 films and over 45 television programs to his credit. His film debut was in Roger Donaldson’s Sleeping Dogs...
Actor, writer, producer and director Sam Neill has been named the recipient of the 2019 Equity New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Award, after being nominated by the Equity board and other Kiwi performers.
“Sam’s career as an actor is remarkable, but what makes this award so special is that it recognises much more than career success,” says Equity Nz president Jennifer Ward-Lealand.
“It acknowledges those members of our industry who give back at every opportunity, who strive to use their influence for important causes and who continually inspire their peers with their good will and humility. Sam leads by example. This award pays tribute to who he is as a person, as much it does his extraordinary talent.”
Neill joined Equity in 1979, and has more than 75 films and over 45 television programs to his credit. His film debut was in Roger Donaldson’s Sleeping Dogs...
- 10/14/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
After the death of her dairy farmer husband, a middle-aged woman courageously sacrifices her livelihood to speak out against the corruption and injustice at work in her community in the audience-pleasing, humanist drama “The County.” Like writer-director Grímur Hákonarson’s previous film “Rams,” . The yin to that film’s yang, “The County” is full of feisty female energy and imagery, and sprinkled with rousing “you go girl!” comic moments. Niche arthouse play is a given for this appealing and endearingly modest tale.
Hard-working couple Inga (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir) and Reynir (Hinrik Ólafsson) run Dalsmynni, a mom-and-pop dairy farm that has been in his family for generations. With money tight and their hours long, they haven’t been able to take a vacation for three years. At night, they are so fatigued that they can barely manage to mumble, “Did you call the inseminator?” or “Did you order the fertilizer?” before collapsing into bed.
Hard-working couple Inga (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir) and Reynir (Hinrik Ólafsson) run Dalsmynni, a mom-and-pop dairy farm that has been in his family for generations. With money tight and their hours long, they haven’t been able to take a vacation for three years. At night, they are so fatigued that they can barely manage to mumble, “Did you call the inseminator?” or “Did you order the fertilizer?” before collapsing into bed.
- 9/8/2019
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
"It's time for us farmers to retake control." Yes! Fight the power! Screen Daily has debuted a festival promo trailer for the Icelandic drama titled The County, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival coming up next month. The film will screen in the Contemporary World Cinema section, after already opening in Icelandic cinemas this summer. From the acclaimed director of the film Rams, Grímur Hákonarson's The County is set in rural Iceland and follows Inga, a middle-aged cow farmer who loses her husband in an accident and must stand on her own two feet. She begins a new life on her own terms by fighting against corruption and injustice at the co-op in her community. Don't follow the herd! The film stars Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, and Sigurður Sigurjónsson. I'm really enjoying this outstanding trend of anti-corruption, power-to-the-people films from Iceland these days (see also: Woman at War). More of this.
- 8/22/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
‘Rams’ director set to premiere new film in Toronto’s Contemporary World Cinema strand.
Screen can reveal the first trailer for Grimur Hakonarson’s The County, the Icelandic filmmaker’s follow-up to 2015 indie hit Rams.
The film will premiere in the Contemporary World Cinema strand at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6.
The County is set in rural Iceland and follows Inga, a middle aged cow farmer who loses her husband in a car accident and must stand on her own two feet.
New Europe Film Sales handles international rights.
Producers are Netop Films in Iceland with Profile Pictures in Denmark,...
Screen can reveal the first trailer for Grimur Hakonarson’s The County, the Icelandic filmmaker’s follow-up to 2015 indie hit Rams.
The film will premiere in the Contemporary World Cinema strand at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6.
The County is set in rural Iceland and follows Inga, a middle aged cow farmer who loses her husband in a car accident and must stand on her own two feet.
New Europe Film Sales handles international rights.
Producers are Netop Films in Iceland with Profile Pictures in Denmark,...
- 8/22/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Oslo — New-York based distributor Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights to critically-lauded Icelandic drama “A White, White Day,” today’s opening film at New Nordic Films in Haugesund.
In a separate deal, sales agent New Europe Film Sales has closed French-speaking Canada with Funfilm and English-speaking Canada with Game Theory.
Hlynur Pálmason’s sophomore pic, “A White, White Day” bowed at the Critics’ Week in Cannes where Icelandic heavyweight thesp Ingvar Sigurðsson won an acting prize for his solid performance as an off-duty police officer on an obsessive quest. The picture’s winning festival streak continued at the Transilvania and Motovun fests. After this week’s market screening at Haugesund confab New Nordic Films, the drama will have its North American premiere in the Toronto Festival’s Contemporary World Cinema program.
Film Movement’s president Michael Rosenberg said: “Hlynur put the international filmmaking community on notice with his feature film debut,...
In a separate deal, sales agent New Europe Film Sales has closed French-speaking Canada with Funfilm and English-speaking Canada with Game Theory.
Hlynur Pálmason’s sophomore pic, “A White, White Day” bowed at the Critics’ Week in Cannes where Icelandic heavyweight thesp Ingvar Sigurðsson won an acting prize for his solid performance as an off-duty police officer on an obsessive quest. The picture’s winning festival streak continued at the Transilvania and Motovun fests. After this week’s market screening at Haugesund confab New Nordic Films, the drama will have its North American premiere in the Toronto Festival’s Contemporary World Cinema program.
Film Movement’s president Michael Rosenberg said: “Hlynur put the international filmmaking community on notice with his feature film debut,...
- 8/20/2019
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Leon Ford in ‘The Letdown’ (Photo credit: Tony Mott).
Admirers of Leon Ford who enjoyed his work as Ruben in the ABC’s The Letdown and other shows should savour his performance in Jeremy Sims’ upcoming movie Rams because after that he will be off screen for a while.
The actor-writer moved to Los Angeles last year with his wife Alice Bell and their three young children as Alice serves as the writer/creator and co-showrunner on The Expatriates, a 10-part Amazon series produced by Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films.
Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel, the series centres on a group of close-knit American women and their lives as outsiders in Hong Kong and is yet to go into production.
“I would like to find a happy medium that a lot people have where they can go and back forth and do jobs,” he tells If during a family vacation in Australia.
Admirers of Leon Ford who enjoyed his work as Ruben in the ABC’s The Letdown and other shows should savour his performance in Jeremy Sims’ upcoming movie Rams because after that he will be off screen for a while.
The actor-writer moved to Los Angeles last year with his wife Alice Bell and their three young children as Alice serves as the writer/creator and co-showrunner on The Expatriates, a 10-part Amazon series produced by Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films.
Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel, the series centres on a group of close-knit American women and their lives as outsiders in Hong Kong and is yet to go into production.
“I would like to find a happy medium that a lot people have where they can go and back forth and do jobs,” he tells If during a family vacation in Australia.
- 8/8/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.’
The box office results for the Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas this year underline yet again the deep polarisation in the indie film market between the higher earners and the also-rans.
The top five titles – Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding, Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy, Anthony Marais’ Hotel Mumbai, Damon Gameau’s 2040 and Richard Lowenstein’s Mystify: Michael Hutchence – accounted for $15.8 million or 93 per cent of the Oz releases’ takings.
The Aussie films plus holdovers racked up nearly $17 million through the end of July, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s a long way below the $40.6 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.6 million, Breath’s $4.4 million (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
Surveying the challenges facing the indie film business, Transmission Films’ Andrew Mackie tells If:...
The box office results for the Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas this year underline yet again the deep polarisation in the indie film market between the higher earners and the also-rans.
The top five titles – Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding, Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy, Anthony Marais’ Hotel Mumbai, Damon Gameau’s 2040 and Richard Lowenstein’s Mystify: Michael Hutchence – accounted for $15.8 million or 93 per cent of the Oz releases’ takings.
The Aussie films plus holdovers racked up nearly $17 million through the end of July, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s a long way below the $40.6 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.6 million, Breath’s $4.4 million (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
Surveying the challenges facing the indie film business, Transmission Films’ Andrew Mackie tells If:...
- 8/2/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Wayne Blair and Miranda Tapsell on the set of ‘Top End Wedding’.
Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding has edged past Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy to rank as the highest grossing Australian film this year.
At the half way mark of the year, the Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas, plus holdovers, have racked up a modest $15.6 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s a long way below the $40 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.6 million, Breath’s $4.4 million (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
So can the industry surpass or match the 2018 calendar year total of $57.4 million? That was the third biggest year ever behind 2001’s $63.1 million and the all-time record of 2015’s $88.1 million, the year of Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dressmaker and Oddball.
Exhibitors are optimistic about the outlook for the rest of the year,...
Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding has edged past Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy to rank as the highest grossing Australian film this year.
At the half way mark of the year, the Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas, plus holdovers, have racked up a modest $15.6 million, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s a long way below the $40 million generated in the same period last year, led by Peter Rabbit’s $26.6 million, Breath’s $4.4 million (finishing with $4.6 million) and Sweet Country’s $2 million.
So can the industry surpass or match the 2018 calendar year total of $57.4 million? That was the third biggest year ever behind 2001’s $63.1 million and the all-time record of 2015’s $88.1 million, the year of Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dressmaker and Oddball.
Exhibitors are optimistic about the outlook for the rest of the year,...
- 7/2/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales has picked up world sales rights for the upcoming drama “Fools,” by Berlinale Silver Bear winner Tomasz Wasilewski (“United States of Love”), produced by Ewa Puszczynska, the producer behind Pawel Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winner “Ida” and nominee “Cold War.”
Leading Polish actors Dorota Kolak and Lukasz Simlat star in a film about the difficult relationship between a mother and son, and how their choices have dramatic consequences.
Puszczynska is producing for her company Extreme Emotions, in co-production with Ada Solomon at Romania’s Hi-Film and Jamila Wenske of Germany’s One Two Films, and in association with Nem Corp. Romanian DoP Oleg Mutu returns after his previous collaboration with Wasilewski on “United States of Love,” which New Europe sold to over 30 territories.
New Europe’s Cannes line-up includes the Critics’ Week selection “A White, White Day,” by Hlynur Palmason, which sold...
Leading Polish actors Dorota Kolak and Lukasz Simlat star in a film about the difficult relationship between a mother and son, and how their choices have dramatic consequences.
Puszczynska is producing for her company Extreme Emotions, in co-production with Ada Solomon at Romania’s Hi-Film and Jamila Wenske of Germany’s One Two Films, and in association with Nem Corp. Romanian DoP Oleg Mutu returns after his previous collaboration with Wasilewski on “United States of Love,” which New Europe sold to over 30 territories.
New Europe’s Cannes line-up includes the Critics’ Week selection “A White, White Day,” by Hlynur Palmason, which sold...
- 5/14/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Urban Distribution has bought rights for France and Palace has taken rights for Australia to Hlynur Palmason’s “A White, White Day” from New Europe Film Sales, ahead of the film’s world premiere in Cannes this week, where it competes in Critics’ Week.
The film is Palmason’s second feature after “Winter Brothers,” which won four prizes at its world premiere in Locarno, and then played more than 60 festivals and won more than 30 prizes and was released in more than 10 territories.
“A White, White Day” is the story of an off-duty police chief from a remote Icelandic town, who begins to suspect a local man of having had an affair with his late wife, who died in a tragic accident two years earlier. Gradually his obsession with finding out the truth accumulates and inevitably begins to endanger himself and his loved ones. The film’s team calls it “a story of grief,...
The film is Palmason’s second feature after “Winter Brothers,” which won four prizes at its world premiere in Locarno, and then played more than 60 festivals and won more than 30 prizes and was released in more than 10 territories.
“A White, White Day” is the story of an off-duty police chief from a remote Icelandic town, who begins to suspect a local man of having had an affair with his late wife, who died in a tragic accident two years earlier. Gradually his obsession with finding out the truth accumulates and inevitably begins to endanger himself and his loved ones. The film’s team calls it “a story of grief,...
- 5/14/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
‘Top End Wedding’.
It’s been a quiet start for the year for Australian films at the national box office, particularly compared to last year when Peter Rabbit and Sweet Country were drawing crowds.
However exhibitors are very optimistic about the outlook for the rest of the year, including Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding which opened yesterday, Rachel Ward’s Palm Beach and Kriv Stenders’ Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (both August 8) and Rachel Griffiths’ Ride Like a Girl (September 26).
Ten new releases plus holdovers collectively racked up $9.06 million through April 30, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s way below the first four months of 2018, which generated $32 million, with Will Gluck’s Peter Rabbit making $25.4 million en route to a final total of $26.7 million and Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country $2 million.
Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy pocketed nearly $5 million, not a bad result,...
It’s been a quiet start for the year for Australian films at the national box office, particularly compared to last year when Peter Rabbit and Sweet Country were drawing crowds.
However exhibitors are very optimistic about the outlook for the rest of the year, including Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding which opened yesterday, Rachel Ward’s Palm Beach and Kriv Stenders’ Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (both August 8) and Rachel Griffiths’ Ride Like a Girl (September 26).
Ten new releases plus holdovers collectively racked up $9.06 million through April 30, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
That’s way below the first four months of 2018, which generated $32 million, with Will Gluck’s Peter Rabbit making $25.4 million en route to a final total of $26.7 million and Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country $2 million.
Shawn Seet’s Storm Boy pocketed nearly $5 million, not a bad result,...
- 5/3/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
London-based sales agency WestEnd Films has released the first-look photo for “I Am Woman,” which Variety has exclusively. The movie follows the rise of singer-songwriter Helen Reddy, whose song “I Am Woman” became the anthem for the women’s movement in the 1970s. The shot features Tilda Cobham-Hervey, who plays Reddy.
“A film for our times, this is a story of fearless ambition and passion, about a woman who led the way for other women seeking equality by smashing through the patriarchal norms to become the international singing superstar she always dreamed of being,” according to WestEnd.
The film is directed by Unjoo Moon (“The Zen of Bennett”), and also stars Evan Peters as Helen’s manager and husband Jeff Wald, and Danielle Macdonald as the rock journalist Lilian Roxon.
The film is produced by Goalpost Pictures’ Rosemary Blight, and is written by Emma Jensen (“Mary Shelley”). The cinematographer is Dion Beebe,...
“A film for our times, this is a story of fearless ambition and passion, about a woman who led the way for other women seeking equality by smashing through the patriarchal norms to become the international singing superstar she always dreamed of being,” according to WestEnd.
The film is directed by Unjoo Moon (“The Zen of Bennett”), and also stars Evan Peters as Helen’s manager and husband Jeff Wald, and Danielle Macdonald as the rock journalist Lilian Roxon.
The film is produced by Goalpost Pictures’ Rosemary Blight, and is written by Emma Jensen (“Mary Shelley”). The cinematographer is Dion Beebe,...
- 2/7/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Goteborg — The 20th Nordic Film Market, held parallel to the Göteborg Film Festival, closed Sunday after three days of screenings and pitchings of 48 Nordic films and projects. Following, five key takeaways or trends:
Standout Nordic Brand Quality
An excellent crop, better than 2018, with a large diversity of content, catering to arthouse/mainstream as well as local/international audiences – these were prevailing reactions from international buyers and programmers polled yesterday in Göteborg. A senior A festival programmer – who asked to remain anonymous- even said: “Today the Nordics are perhaps the strongest region in Europe creatively across TV drama, feature and documentary film.”
Although most titles had already been snatched by the big Nordic sellers – TrustNordisk, LevelK, New Europe Film Sales, The Yellow Affair, Sf Studios – a dozen small offers in post, or in development at the Discovery section, still open for negotiations, made the Göteborg stop-over – fully worthwhile for the 25-plus sales reps in attendance.
Standout Nordic Brand Quality
An excellent crop, better than 2018, with a large diversity of content, catering to arthouse/mainstream as well as local/international audiences – these were prevailing reactions from international buyers and programmers polled yesterday in Göteborg. A senior A festival programmer – who asked to remain anonymous- even said: “Today the Nordics are perhaps the strongest region in Europe creatively across TV drama, feature and documentary film.”
Although most titles had already been snatched by the big Nordic sellers – TrustNordisk, LevelK, New Europe Film Sales, The Yellow Affair, Sf Studios – a dozen small offers in post, or in development at the Discovery section, still open for negotiations, made the Göteborg stop-over – fully worthwhile for the 25-plus sales reps in attendance.
- 2/3/2019
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
“Focus: Nordic Comedy is a tribute to the contemporary Nordic comedy and an attempt to try to understand humor’s social and political role in today’s culture,” says Göteborg fest artistic director Jonas Holmberg. He admits that it was partially conceived as an antidote to the fest’s other focus on the Apocalypse. He says, “The Apocalypse was the first one we came up with. It really engaged us, but we were worried that it might seem too dark or too hopeless.”
He added: Then we realized that the last four out of five winners of the European Film Awards for best comedy came from the Nordic countries; that they were films whose success was not just in their home territories.”
It’s true. Nordic comedies are becoming as popular world-wide as Nordic noir. The Swedish film “A Man Called Ove,” adapted from the popular book by Fridrik Backman and directed by Hannes Holm,...
He added: Then we realized that the last four out of five winners of the European Film Awards for best comedy came from the Nordic countries; that they were films whose success was not just in their home territories.”
It’s true. Nordic comedies are becoming as popular world-wide as Nordic noir. The Swedish film “A Man Called Ove,” adapted from the popular book by Fridrik Backman and directed by Hannes Holm,...
- 1/26/2019
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
The County
Four years after his hit sophomore film Rams (2015), Iceland’s Grimur Hakonarson should at last be ready with his third feature, The County. His latest is an Icelandic-Danish-French-German co-production, comprised of Hakonarson’s returning producer Grimar Jonsson (also of 2017’s Under the Tree) plus co-producers Jamila Wenske and Sol Bondy. Starring Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir, Hakonarson also reunites with his Rams actors Sigurður Sigurjónsson and Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, who are also joined by Hinrik Ólafsson, Hannes Óli Ágústsson, Ragnhildur Gísladóttir and Denmark’s Jens Albinus.…...
Four years after his hit sophomore film Rams (2015), Iceland’s Grimur Hakonarson should at last be ready with his third feature, The County. His latest is an Icelandic-Danish-French-German co-production, comprised of Hakonarson’s returning producer Grimar Jonsson (also of 2017’s Under the Tree) plus co-producers Jamila Wenske and Sol Bondy. Starring Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir, Hakonarson also reunites with his Rams actors Sigurður Sigurjónsson and Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, who are also joined by Hinrik Ólafsson, Hannes Óli Ágústsson, Ragnhildur Gísladóttir and Denmark’s Jens Albinus.…...
- 1/4/2019
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Most filmmakers dream of scoring a big studio deal, but not Gary Hustwit. The “Helvetica” director applies a “do it yourself” model to the release of his movies. “Rams,” his recent documentary about German industrial designer Dieter Rams, is Hustwit’s latest venture into self-distribution.
“I don’t want to be paying someone else’s overhead,” said Hustwit. “I can reach our core audience better than anyone else can, and I don’t have to share the profits. A lot of filmmakers have this illusion that if you sign with a distributor they’ll do all the work, and that’s just not the case.”
Instead, Hustwit serves as his own marketer and booker. He rents the theaters that play his films, and the filmmaker often shows up in person to do a Q&A following a showing.
In the case of “Rams,” Hustwit hosted some 40 events. Most of the engagements were sellouts.
“I don’t want to be paying someone else’s overhead,” said Hustwit. “I can reach our core audience better than anyone else can, and I don’t have to share the profits. A lot of filmmakers have this illusion that if you sign with a distributor they’ll do all the work, and that’s just not the case.”
Instead, Hustwit serves as his own marketer and booker. He rents the theaters that play his films, and the filmmaker often shows up in person to do a Q&A following a showing.
In the case of “Rams,” Hustwit hosted some 40 events. Most of the engagements were sellouts.
- 12/19/2018
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Festival crowns winners in its Work in Progress, Co-Production and Talent Village strands.
Les Arcs Film Festival, the event held on top of a mountain in the French Alps, has named the winning projects in its 2018 industry programme.
This year’s Les Arcs Industry Village showcased 20 projects in development at the Co-Production Village, screened 18 feature films in post-production as part of the Work in Progress session, and presented its first selection of eight newcomers at the inaugural Talent Village.
Since it was set up 10 years ago, the Industry Village has become a hub for projects that go onto be high-profile,...
Les Arcs Film Festival, the event held on top of a mountain in the French Alps, has named the winning projects in its 2018 industry programme.
This year’s Les Arcs Industry Village showcased 20 projects in development at the Co-Production Village, screened 18 feature films in post-production as part of the Work in Progress session, and presented its first selection of eight newcomers at the inaugural Talent Village.
Since it was set up 10 years ago, the Industry Village has become a hub for projects that go onto be high-profile,...
- 12/18/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Miranda Richardson has signed on for the English-language remake of Un Certain Regard winner “Rams.” The British star of stage and screen joins a cast that includes Sam Neill and Michael Caton on the movie, which is currently shooting in western Australia.
Richardson plays Kat, the local veterinarian of a sheep-farming town hit by a rare disease affecting the flocks of estranged brothers Colin and Les, played by Neill and Caton, respectively. The outbreak forces them to work together to save their livelihoods and family legacy. Charlotte Boving played the original character that Richardson has taken on in the re-imagining of Grimur Hakonarson’s well-received picture.
Richardson has a lengthy list of film, TV and stage credits including “Blackadder,” “The Crying Game,” and “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” Jeremy Sims directs the adaptation of the Icelandic film and said he was thrilled to have Richardson on board.
“I’ve been a fan forever,...
Richardson plays Kat, the local veterinarian of a sheep-farming town hit by a rare disease affecting the flocks of estranged brothers Colin and Les, played by Neill and Caton, respectively. The outbreak forces them to work together to save their livelihoods and family legacy. Charlotte Boving played the original character that Richardson has taken on in the re-imagining of Grimur Hakonarson’s well-received picture.
Richardson has a lengthy list of film, TV and stage credits including “Blackadder,” “The Crying Game,” and “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” Jeremy Sims directs the adaptation of the Icelandic film and said he was thrilled to have Richardson on board.
“I’ve been a fan forever,...
- 11/27/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Poland’s new generation of producers has been gearing up as the country’s films gain burnished profiles on the world stage — and they’re deeply invested in driving further advances, especially as the country’s parliament is poised to pass rich production incentives.
Building on the success at Cannes of Pawel Pawlikowski’s retro romance “Cold War,” the film’s producer, Ewa Puszczynska, recently joined forces with two other established talents in Poland, Klaudia Śmieja (producer of “High Life” and “Gareth Jones”) and sales agent Jan Naszewski of New Europe Film Sales to form production company Nem Corp.
Puszczynska (who also produced Pawlikowski’s “Ida”) has committed to embracing Poland’s new production incentives in addition to securing both public and private project financing, reflecting a strategy used by many colleagues.
Projects have been rolling into Poland or launching locally with international partners at a brisk pace even without incentives,...
Building on the success at Cannes of Pawel Pawlikowski’s retro romance “Cold War,” the film’s producer, Ewa Puszczynska, recently joined forces with two other established talents in Poland, Klaudia Śmieja (producer of “High Life” and “Gareth Jones”) and sales agent Jan Naszewski of New Europe Film Sales to form production company Nem Corp.
Puszczynska (who also produced Pawlikowski’s “Ida”) has committed to embracing Poland’s new production incentives in addition to securing both public and private project financing, reflecting a strategy used by many colleagues.
Projects have been rolling into Poland or launching locally with international partners at a brisk pace even without incentives,...
- 11/4/2018
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
Sam Neill (“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”) and Michael Caton (“The Animal”) can be seen in-character in the eagerly-anticipated “Rams” in these exclusive first-look images from the shoot. The pair play sheep farmers and estranged brothers Colin (Neill) and Les (Caton).
They are a chalk and cheese pair – Colin is studious and introverted, while Les is hot-headed and crude. But they must reunite after a 40-year silence to save their flocks after the authorities order the slaughter of their sheep when a ram is found to be carrying a rare disease.
The film is a reimagining of Grimur Hakonarson’s earlier picture, which was set in Iceland and won the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The English-language version is being filmed in Western Australia’s Great Southern region.
“Rams” was adapted by screenwriter Jules Duncan and is being produced by Janelle Landers and Aidan O’Bryan from Australia-based Wbmc.
They are a chalk and cheese pair – Colin is studious and introverted, while Les is hot-headed and crude. But they must reunite after a 40-year silence to save their flocks after the authorities order the slaughter of their sheep when a ram is found to be carrying a rare disease.
The film is a reimagining of Grimur Hakonarson’s earlier picture, which was set in Iceland and won the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The English-language version is being filmed in Western Australia’s Great Southern region.
“Rams” was adapted by screenwriter Jules Duncan and is being produced by Janelle Landers and Aidan O’Bryan from Australia-based Wbmc.
- 11/2/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Ovation has scored a number of factual shows from Sky Vision as Mipcom gets underway, including a series that sees “Jurassic Park” actor Sam Neill hit the high seas.
Arts and culture U.S. cable network Ovation snagged the six-part “The Pacific: In The Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill” as part of wider deal with Sky Vision, the content and distribution arm of European pay TV giant Sky.
The six-part documentary series sees Neill, soon to be seen in the remake of “Rams,” retrace Captain Cook’s voyage across the largest ocean in the world, and delve into Cook’s legacy.
Ovation has acquired 75 hours in all and multiple series. Shows heading to the channel include “Antiques Road Trip” and its celebrity spin-off, and magic series “Illusions of Grandeur.” It has also picked up art show “Making Marvels,” which follows the Urban Arts Projects group as they create massive works of art.
Arts and culture U.S. cable network Ovation snagged the six-part “The Pacific: In The Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill” as part of wider deal with Sky Vision, the content and distribution arm of European pay TV giant Sky.
The six-part documentary series sees Neill, soon to be seen in the remake of “Rams,” retrace Captain Cook’s voyage across the largest ocean in the world, and delve into Cook’s legacy.
Ovation has acquired 75 hours in all and multiple series. Shows heading to the channel include “Antiques Road Trip” and its celebrity spin-off, and magic series “Illusions of Grandeur.” It has also picked up art show “Making Marvels,” which follows the Urban Arts Projects group as they create massive works of art.
- 10/15/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Sam Neill and Michael Caton will play estranged brothers and farmers forced to work together after a crisis hits their farms in comedy drama “Rams.” The project is an English-language adaptation of the Icelandic movie of the same name that won best film in Un Certain Regard at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Jeremy Sims will helm the picture, reuniting him with Caton (“The Castle”) after the pair worked together on “Last Cab to Darwin.”
The original picture was written and directed by Grimur Hakonarson. It was set and filmed in his native Iceland. Production started Monday on the Australia-set version, which is shooting in Western Australia’s Great Southern region. Sims said he is “excited to have the chance to take this elegant and powerful tale and set it in the place that I spent my summers growing up.”
The film follows two brothers on adjoining sheep farms, played by Neill (“Jurassic Park”) and Caton.
The original picture was written and directed by Grimur Hakonarson. It was set and filmed in his native Iceland. Production started Monday on the Australia-set version, which is shooting in Western Australia’s Great Southern region. Sims said he is “excited to have the chance to take this elegant and powerful tale and set it in the place that I spent my summers growing up.”
The film follows two brothers on adjoining sheep farms, played by Neill (“Jurassic Park”) and Caton.
- 10/1/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Ewa Puszczyńska, the producer behind Pawel Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winner “Ida” and the director’s Cannes best director award winner and Toronto Film Festival entry “Cold War,” is setting up a new production company, Nem Corp., with Klaudia Śmieja, the producer of Claire Denis’ Toronto film “High Life” and Agnieszka Holland’s upcoming “Gareth Jones,” and sales agent Jan Naszewski’s New Europe Film Sales.
Nem Corp. intends to attract “prestigious international film projects” to Poland, both as co-productions and service work, as well as develop projects of its own with top Polish talent. The company, which is already working on a slate of projects, wants to take advantage of the 30% tax incentive newly introduced by the Polish parliament as well as the soft money and private funding opportunities available in Poland.
Puszczyńska co-produced Robert Schwentke’s “The Captain” and Rezo Gigineishvili’s Berlinale-selected “Hostages,” and works as an expert for the Torino Film Lab.
Nem Corp. intends to attract “prestigious international film projects” to Poland, both as co-productions and service work, as well as develop projects of its own with top Polish talent. The company, which is already working on a slate of projects, wants to take advantage of the 30% tax incentive newly introduced by the Polish parliament as well as the soft money and private funding opportunities available in Poland.
Puszczyńska co-produced Robert Schwentke’s “The Captain” and Rezo Gigineishvili’s Berlinale-selected “Hostages,” and works as an expert for the Torino Film Lab.
- 8/31/2018
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
“When you fall at the beginning of the journey, it will be a good journey,” says genial producer Grímar Jónsson of Netop Films, quoting an old Icelandic proverb. He’s referring to the emergency tooth extraction required by ace Estonian Dp Mart Taniel (“November”) on the first day of the shoot of “The County,” the much-anticipated new film from “Rams” helmer Grímur Hákonarson. Luckily, the main shooting location of the Iceland/Denmark/Germany/France co-production was just two hours from Reykjavik and Jónsson’s helpful dentist.
Like “Rams,” “The County” probes a deeply rooted rural culture that is closely connected to the Icelandic national spirit. The story centers on Inga (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir), a middle-aged widow who must learn to be self-sufficient after the accidental death of her dairy farmer husband. She starts a new life on her own terms and rises up against the corruption and injustice in her community.
Like “Rams,” “The County” probes a deeply rooted rural culture that is closely connected to the Icelandic national spirit. The story centers on Inga (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir), a middle-aged widow who must learn to be self-sufficient after the accidental death of her dairy farmer husband. She starts a new life on her own terms and rises up against the corruption and injustice in her community.
- 5/16/2018
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American and Latin American rights to Nadine Labaki’s Cannes competition title “Capernaum,” which will premiere at the festival next Thursday. Spc previously distributed Labaki’s second film, “Where Do We Go Now?” Her latest feature is billed as a “politically-charged fable” that follows a child who sues his own family. It is one of three films directed by women to compete for the Palme d’Or at this year’s festival.
Sony Pictures Classics plans to open the film in December qualifying the movie for year-end awards consideration.
“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to collaborate once again with Sony Pictures Classics. ‘Capernaum’ is very special to me, and with the passion Tom and Michael have for this film, I know this is the ideal partnership,” said Labaki in an official statement.
Actress-turned-fimmaker Labaki is a Cannes regular, a graduate of the festival’s Residence program,...
Sony Pictures Classics plans to open the film in December qualifying the movie for year-end awards consideration.
“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to collaborate once again with Sony Pictures Classics. ‘Capernaum’ is very special to me, and with the passion Tom and Michael have for this film, I know this is the ideal partnership,” said Labaki in an official statement.
Actress-turned-fimmaker Labaki is a Cannes regular, a graduate of the festival’s Residence program,...
- 5/10/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
“When you fall at the beginning of the journey, it will be a good journey,” says genial producer Grímar Jónsson of Netop Films, quoting an old Icelandic proverb. He’s referring to the emergency tooth extraction required by ace Estonian cinematographer Mart Taniel (“November”) on the first day of the shoot of “The County,” the much-anticipated new film from “Rams” helmer Grímur Hákonarson. Luckily, the main shooting location of the Iceland-Denmark-Germany-France co-production was just two hours from Reykjavik and Jónsson’s helpful dentist.
Like “Rams,” “The County” probes a deeply rooted rural culture that is closely connected to the Icelandic national spirit. The story centers on Inga (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir), a middle-aged widow, who must learn to be self-sufficient after the accidental death of her dairy farmer husband. She starts a new life on her own terms and rises up against the corruption and injustice in her community.
Jan Naszewski...
Like “Rams,” “The County” probes a deeply rooted rural culture that is closely connected to the Icelandic national spirit. The story centers on Inga (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir), a middle-aged widow, who must learn to be self-sufficient after the accidental death of her dairy farmer husband. She starts a new life on her own terms and rises up against the corruption and injustice in her community.
Jan Naszewski...
- 5/10/2018
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin-based One Two Films, co-producer of such recent high-profile works as Jennifer Fox’s “The Tale” and Isabel Coixet’s “The Bookshop,” is set to follow its winning run with a slew of upcoming German and international productions.
One Two Films’ Jamila Wenske and Sol Bondy are partnering with Canadian writer-producer Mike MacMillan on two English-language films currently in development. “I Will Not Go Quietly” centers on a distant but desperate father who travels from Toronto to Switzerland to reach his ill daughter; the film is penned by MacMillan and Darragh McDonald. “Nightlife” is a comedy set in Berlin.
In addition, the company is co-producing Icelandic director Grimur Hakonarson’s recently wrapped “The County.” The film, which follows his 2015 Cannes Un Certain Regard award winner “Rams,” is a co-production by Iceland, Denmark, Germany, and France.
Wenske and Bondy — selected by Variety for its 2018 10 Producers to Watch list — are re-teaming with...
One Two Films’ Jamila Wenske and Sol Bondy are partnering with Canadian writer-producer Mike MacMillan on two English-language films currently in development. “I Will Not Go Quietly” centers on a distant but desperate father who travels from Toronto to Switzerland to reach his ill daughter; the film is penned by MacMillan and Darragh McDonald. “Nightlife” is a comedy set in Berlin.
In addition, the company is co-producing Icelandic director Grimur Hakonarson’s recently wrapped “The County.” The film, which follows his 2015 Cannes Un Certain Regard award winner “Rams,” is a co-production by Iceland, Denmark, Germany, and France.
Wenske and Bondy — selected by Variety for its 2018 10 Producers to Watch list — are re-teaming with...
- 5/8/2018
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Jan Naszewski’s New Europe Film Sales has closed a host of presales on Grimur Hakonarson’s comedy drama “The County.” The Icelandic director’s last film, “Rams,” won best film in Un Certain Regard at 2015’s Cannes Film Festival, and sold to more than 50 countries.
“The County” was sold to Curzon in U.K./Ireland, Palace in Australia/New Zealand, Xenix in Switzerland, Imagine in Benelux, Vertigo in Hungary, Strada in Greece and Scanbox in Scandinavia. Haut et Court will release the film in France and Sena in Iceland.
“The County” is the story of Inga, a middle-aged dairy farmer whose husband dies. “She decides to start a new life on her own terms and rises up against corruption and injustice in her community,” according to a statement.
The film, which has just wrapped shooting and will premiere next year, stars Arndis Hronn Egilsdottir (“Sparrows”) and Sigurdur Sigurjonsson. It was lensed by Mart Taniel,...
“The County” was sold to Curzon in U.K./Ireland, Palace in Australia/New Zealand, Xenix in Switzerland, Imagine in Benelux, Vertigo in Hungary, Strada in Greece and Scanbox in Scandinavia. Haut et Court will release the film in France and Sena in Iceland.
“The County” is the story of Inga, a middle-aged dairy farmer whose husband dies. “She decides to start a new life on her own terms and rises up against corruption and injustice in her community,” according to a statement.
The film, which has just wrapped shooting and will premiere next year, stars Arndis Hronn Egilsdottir (“Sparrows”) and Sigurdur Sigurjonsson. It was lensed by Mart Taniel,...
- 5/7/2018
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Girl Talk is a weekly look at women in film — past, present, and future.
While the Cannes Film Festival has long struggled to put together a Competition slate that includes more than a fraction of female filmmakers, there are major signs of diverse life throughout the rest of this year’s slate, which includes 20 female filmmakers set to debut new films at the lauded festival. At least said Competition includes a trio of intriguing (and very different-sounding) offerings, including films from both Cannes regulars and a newbie. Elsewhere, there’s still more exciting new work to be found from filmmakers both established and emerging.
The Un Certain Regard section — which often touts high numbers of female filmmakers — nearly reached parity with its slate, as six of its 13 films were directed by women. In the International Critics’ Week (Aka Semaine de la Critique) sidebar, they’re actually leading the way. In...
While the Cannes Film Festival has long struggled to put together a Competition slate that includes more than a fraction of female filmmakers, there are major signs of diverse life throughout the rest of this year’s slate, which includes 20 female filmmakers set to debut new films at the lauded festival. At least said Competition includes a trio of intriguing (and very different-sounding) offerings, including films from both Cannes regulars and a newbie. Elsewhere, there’s still more exciting new work to be found from filmmakers both established and emerging.
The Un Certain Regard section — which often touts high numbers of female filmmakers — nearly reached parity with its slate, as six of its 13 films were directed by women. In the International Critics’ Week (Aka Semaine de la Critique) sidebar, they’re actually leading the way. In...
- 5/4/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
This year’s Cannes Film Festival competition announcement continues a worrying trend in the history of the lauded festival: a slate dominated by male directors. The 2018 competition lineup includes the highest number of films from female filmmakers since 2011 — but that’s only a sign of growth due to the even smaller number of films from women in the 2017 lineup.
This year’s festival will play home to new works from Nadine Labaki, Eva Husson, and Alice Rohrwacher, who will compete in a smaller competition section (although the festival may add more films in the days ahead).
As happened last year, when the festival’s competition slate also included just three female directors, the 2018 edition of the event cut down slightly on the competition entries. The section typically vacillates between 23 and 18 offerings each year, which means the total percentage of competing female filmmakers was yet again nominally bumped up even though...
This year’s festival will play home to new works from Nadine Labaki, Eva Husson, and Alice Rohrwacher, who will compete in a smaller competition section (although the festival may add more films in the days ahead).
As happened last year, when the festival’s competition slate also included just three female directors, the 2018 edition of the event cut down slightly on the competition entries. The section typically vacillates between 23 and 18 offerings each year, which means the total percentage of competing female filmmakers was yet again nominally bumped up even though...
- 4/12/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Ultimately, it is unsurprising the love between estranged brothers at the heart of an isolated farming community in Iceland, so, at the heart of this film, is a strong one, disguised in a vehement stalemate where neither has spoken to the other in forty years. You wonder briefly where this schism comes from, but get swept into the emotional drama of both men losing their livelihood, a loss that asserts itself as a foil for their estrangement. Rams (Hrútar) can be bleak if you fast forward and pause in chunks, but reveals a vulnerable humanity punctuated by on-location natural beauty. Not since Midnight Cowboy perhaps, have I felt a brotherly love so wrapped in tactile closeness.
Early in Rams, local veterinarians give devastating news to brothers Gummi (Sigurður Sigurjónsson) and Kiddi (Theodór Júlíusson) along with their Bardardalur farming community. One of Kiddi’s rams has contracted scrapie, an incurable disease...
Early in Rams, local veterinarians give devastating news to brothers Gummi (Sigurður Sigurjónsson) and Kiddi (Theodór Júlíusson) along with their Bardardalur farming community. One of Kiddi’s rams has contracted scrapie, an incurable disease...
- 2/19/2016
- by Dina Paulson
- CinemaNerdz
Fascinating is the best way to describe the process by which the final five nominated for the Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film are selected. Each year dozens of countries send their Oscar hopeful to Hollywood for AMPAS to consider. This work should, at least in theory, be the best representation of the national cinematic achievements of that year. This usually makes for a crowded field of storytelling marvels.
Since each country, via its national film academy or a special cultural committee, can only submit one candidate, there are always “snubs” even at the selections stage. These often happens because a film doesn’t meet the requirements or simply because the selecting body didn’t regard them as highly. While there are numerous detractors regarding AMPAS rule of only one entry per country, in a sense this helps level the playfield given that smaller territories might have very choices in comparison to European powerhouses. The other perspective argues that because of this process sometimes the real standouts don’t get a chance to compete.
Once a film becomes the official entry the next, and most arduous step, is to get into the 9-film shortlist. Six of them are chosen by popular within the AMPAS’ Foreign Language Film committee and the other three by an executed committee. These nine finalists are then watched by 30 randomly selected members from different Academy branches over one weekend. This is where the five nominees are chosen. This year 80 accepted submissions (noting that Afghanistan’s entry was disqualified) are vying for the trophy, and that means that 75 of the world’s best films will have to cherish the exposure given by process.
Nevertheless, making the shortlist is more than a commendable feat itself. This list will be revealed next week, and though there are always unexpected surprises, there are of course a few favorites and films that have garnered lots of positive attention throughout the season. After watching over three quarters out of the colossal list of entries in contention I’d like to share my observations on the 25 films that seem like the strongest bets to make the coveted shortlist and eventually become Academy Award nominees. Granted, other films could easily sneak in if they manage to impress the right people, but I feel confident that most of those that will advance will come from the least below.
Argentina
"The Clan" (El Clan)
Dir. Pablo Trapero
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Fox International
Trapero’s sordid crime drama based on the real life story of the Puccio family, which became national news when authorities discovered they were behind a series of kidnapping and murders, is a compelling work that uses Argentina’s historical context as backdrop. . Almodovar’s El Deseo, the company behind the Oscar-nominated “Wild Tales”, produced the film.
Read More: 'The Clan Wins' Audience Award At Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival’s Gems
Austria
"Goodnight Mommy" (Ich seh, ich seh)
Dirs. Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Radius-twc
One of the most daring selections is also one the most acclaimed horror films of the year. This art house chiller confronts a pair of mischievous twin boys with their convalescent mother who recently underwent a facial surgery. The thematic and aesthetic elegance that co-directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz employed elevates “Goodnight Mommy” beyond the usual gruesome fare.
Belgium
"The Brand New Testament" (Le tout nouveau testament)
Dir. Jaco Van Dormael
Isa: Le Pacte
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This fantastical take on religion is yet another unique vision from director Jaco Van Dormael, the filmmaker behind such films as “Mr. Nobody.” With a humorous tone, “The Brand New Testament” explores what would happen if God himself lived in a regular apartment in Brussels pretending to be a mortal and finding pleasure in the little things that annoy human life - all of which are orchestrated by him.
Brazil
"The Second Mother" (Que Horas Ela Volta?)
Dir. Anna Muylaert
Isa: The Match Factory
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Pictures
Anna Muylaert’s crowd-pleasing, yet thematically complex gem delves into the intricacies of class in Brazilian society through the eyes of an endearing live-in maid. Regina Casé, in an Oscar-worthy performance, becomes Val, a diligent and humble housekeeper that has worked with the same wealthy family in Sao Paulo for many years and who only questions her role within this environment when her strange daughter comes to visit.
Read More: Anna Muylaert on Why the Protagonist of 'The Second Mother' is a Super Hero
Canada
"Felix & Meira"
Dir. Maxime Giroux
Isa: Urban Distribution International
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
A clandestine romance and the yoke of religion are at the center of Maxime Giroux’s delicate debut feature. Meira (Hadas Yaron is a Hasidic woman who feels trapped by the expectations and limitations imposed her, but when she meets Felix (Martin Dubreuil), a secular man who is equally lost, her vision of the world widens.
Rea More: 'Felix and Meira' Director Maxime Giroux on Understanding Hasidim and Quebecois Isolation
Chile
"The Club" (El Club)
Dir. Pablo Larraín
Isa: Funny Balloons
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
Larrain's latest work follows a group of priests and nuns who live in an isolated beachside town after committing a score of heinous crimes. Though they have the church's protection, there are people out there who are not willing to let impunity prevail. Magnificently written and acted, this dark and piercing drama ranks up there with the director’s best work
Colombia
"Embrace of the Serpent" (El Abrazo de la Serpiente)
Dir. Ciro Guerra
Isa: Films Boutique
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Strikingly beautiful and laced with poetic mysticism, Ciro Guerra’s most accomplished work to date follows the journey of two European explores at particular times in history as they are guided through the Amazon by Karamakate, an imposing local shaman man who is wary of their intentions.
Czech Republic
"Home Care" (Domácí péce)
Dir. Slávek Horák
Isa: M-Appeal
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This very low-key dramedy from first-time director Slávek Horák about a a middle-aged home care nurse, who not only has to look after her patients but also her own family, hasn’t had as much exposure as other films on this list; however, the quality of the performances and the nuanced screenplay have resonated with those who have seen it.
Denmark
"A War" (Krigen)
Dir. Tobias Lindholm
Isa: Studiocanal
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Director Tobias Lindholm follow up to “A Hijacking,” blends gritty action with a courtroom drama in a searing study on guilt and the collateral damage of armed conflicts from the point of view of conflicted family man and company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk). Subtle observations and intricate moral complexity are once again Lindholm's greatest strengths.
Estonia
"1944"
Dir. Elmo Nüganen
Isa: Eyewell Ab
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
After earning its first-ever Academy Award nomination earlier this year, the Eastern European country returns to the race with an impressive historical epic about Estonian soldiers fighting on different sides against their own. The film was directed, who starred in the Oscar-nominated “Tangerines.”
Finland
"The Fencer" (Miekkailija)
Dir. Klaus Härö
Isa: The Little Film Company
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
Finnish filmmaker Klaus Härö takes on an Estonian story about a professional fencer who becomes a physical education teacher in his homeland after leaving Russia to escape the Kgb. This classically executed and elegant period drama offers uplifting moments, romance, and exquisite cinematography.
France
"Mustang"
Dir. Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Isa: Kinology
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Through traditional gender roles and expectations in Turkish society, adults attempt to tame the blossoming womanhood in Deniz Gamze Ergüven's five teenage protagonists. Delicately shot and cast to perfection, this peculiar coming-of-ager is an empowering breath of fresh air that honors freedom and femininity in equal measures.
Read More: 'Mustang' Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven on Femininity in Cinema and French Multiculturalism
Germany
"Labyrinth of Lies" (Im Labyrinth des Schweigens)
Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
In the aftermath of WWII German authorities and the majority of the population refused to acknowledge the magnitude of their involvement in the Holocaust until a driven young prosecutor begins uncovering the truth. Ricciarelli film is a compelling historical drama with a fantastic lead performance by Alexander Fehling at its core.
Read More: Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli and Star Alexander Fehling on the Historical Relevance of 'Labyrinth of Lies' and Germany's Open Wound
Guatemala
"Ixcanul"
Dir. Jayro Bustamante
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Kino Lorber
Bustamante’s Silver Bear-winning ethereal masterpiece in indigenous language is an intimate look at the lives of the country’s Mayan population. Told through the eyes of a teenage girl destined to an arranged marriage, this marvelously photographed film speaks of tradition, modernity, mysticism, male chauvinism, and cultural isolation.
Read More: 'Ixcanul' Director Jayro Bustamante on the Strength of Mayan Women and Guatemala's Indigenous Majority
Hungary
"Son of Saul" (Saul fia)
Dir. László Nemes
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
By far the most incredible debut of the year and one of the best films about the Holocaust ever made, this year’s Grand Prix winner takes the viewer inside the Nazi killing machine from the perspective of the Sonderkommando, a group of Jewish men chosen to carry out all horrific manual labor within the gas chambers. Immersive and devastating, Nemes' stunner is a powerful cinematic statement.
Iceland
"Rams" (Hrútar)
Dir. Grímur Hákonarson
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
A humorous look at brotherhood and pastoral life, this Un Certain Regard-winning dark comedy pays homage to the importance of sheep in the Icelandic cultural identity. When a disease wipes out the entire town’s flock, two estrange siblings, who haven’t spoken to each other in decades, are forced to collaborate in order to save their livelihood.
Ireland
"Viva"
Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Isa: Mongrel International
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Jesus, a young gay man in Havana, only finds relief from his daily struggles when he transforms into a drag performer in front of an eager audience, but when his macho father returns after decades away his dreams are jeopardized. This Irish production set in Cuba is a delightful work that thrives on authenticity and emotionally layered performances.
Read More:'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Jordan
"Theeb" (ذيب)
Dir. Naji Abu Nowar
Isa: Fortissimo Films
U.S. Distribution: Film Movement
Adapting the sensibilities of classic Westerns into a uniquely Middle Eastern setting, this period piece touches on the complicated relationship between the region and the colonial powers via the experiences of a young Bedouin boy who embarks on a mission across the desert. Top-notch filmmaking that twists conventions to depict a singular worldview.
Mexico
"600 Miles" (600 Millas)
Dir. Gabriel Ripstein
Isa: Ndm
U.S. Distribution: Pantelion Films
By focusing on two characters from opposite sides of the border, Gabriel Ripstein’s debut Starring Tim Roth delves into the U.S/Mexico conflictive, yet unavoidable codependency and share responsibility in the fight against organized crime. Guns are at the center of this realist tale in which everyone’s morality is tinged with shades of grey.
The Netherlands
"The Paradise Suite"
Dir. Joost van Ginkel
Isa: Media Luna New Films
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
In this profound multi-narrative film the tumultuous stories of characters from diverse latitudes collide in Amsterdam in unexpected and heartbreaking ways. An Eastern European girl dragged into prostitution, an African man desperate to stay afloat, a war criminal in disguise, a woman seeking revenge, and famous musician and his son struggling to connect, all, in their own way, looking fro redemption.
Norway
"The Wave" (Bølgen)
Dir. Roar Uthaug
Isa: TrustNordisk
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Besides its spectacular, Hollywood-worthy visual effects, what sets this Scandinavian disaster movie apart from less sophisticated American efforts is its interesting character development. While the chaos and destruction on screen is an exhilarating feast, the human aspect is never forgotten and it’s crucial to the Norwegian specificity of the plot.
Romania
"Aferim!"
Dir. Radu Jude
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Big World Pictures
Thematically fascinating and visually impeccable, this black-and-white historical adventure set in the early 19th century solidifies Romanian cinema as one of the most exciting and innovative currents in Europe. Radu Jude’s film centers on the mostly unknown history of Gypsy slavery and how this shaped Romanian society by using a tragicomic tone and timeless aesthetics.
Spain
"Flowers" (Loreak)
Dirs. Jon Garaño & Jose Mari Goenaga
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
The country’s firs Basque-language entry is a soft-spoken drama that juxtaposes the grieving processes of three women after the tragic death of man that touched their lives directly and indirectly. Unpretentious in its concept, yet unexpectedly philosophical, the power of the narrative lies on the actresses that flourish and decay in varying degrees throughout the film.
Sweden
"A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" (En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron)
Dir. Roy Andersson
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
As brilliant as anything Andersson has ever created, the final chapter in his trilogy about the absurdity of what it means to be human is one of the most unconventional cinematic experiences in recent memory. Without the constraints of la traditional plot, this nonlinear treasure uses clever vignettes to talk about death, humor, and the mundane things that define our existence.
Read More: 7 Reasons Why Roy Andersson's Latest Film is a Must-See Philosophical Wonder
Taiwan
"The Assassin" (聶隱娘)
Dir. Hsiao-hsien Hou
Isa: Wild Bunch
U.S. Distribution: Well Go USA Entertainment
Armed with breathtaking cinematography, lavish costumes and production design, and an ancient legend about betrayal and retribution, master Hsiao-hsien Hou obliterates our expectations and delivers a one-of-a-kind martial arts epic that’s more concerned with sensory transcendence than narrative clarity, but is no less of an enthralling experience because of it.
Since each country, via its national film academy or a special cultural committee, can only submit one candidate, there are always “snubs” even at the selections stage. These often happens because a film doesn’t meet the requirements or simply because the selecting body didn’t regard them as highly. While there are numerous detractors regarding AMPAS rule of only one entry per country, in a sense this helps level the playfield given that smaller territories might have very choices in comparison to European powerhouses. The other perspective argues that because of this process sometimes the real standouts don’t get a chance to compete.
Once a film becomes the official entry the next, and most arduous step, is to get into the 9-film shortlist. Six of them are chosen by popular within the AMPAS’ Foreign Language Film committee and the other three by an executed committee. These nine finalists are then watched by 30 randomly selected members from different Academy branches over one weekend. This is where the five nominees are chosen. This year 80 accepted submissions (noting that Afghanistan’s entry was disqualified) are vying for the trophy, and that means that 75 of the world’s best films will have to cherish the exposure given by process.
Nevertheless, making the shortlist is more than a commendable feat itself. This list will be revealed next week, and though there are always unexpected surprises, there are of course a few favorites and films that have garnered lots of positive attention throughout the season. After watching over three quarters out of the colossal list of entries in contention I’d like to share my observations on the 25 films that seem like the strongest bets to make the coveted shortlist and eventually become Academy Award nominees. Granted, other films could easily sneak in if they manage to impress the right people, but I feel confident that most of those that will advance will come from the least below.
Argentina
"The Clan" (El Clan)
Dir. Pablo Trapero
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Fox International
Trapero’s sordid crime drama based on the real life story of the Puccio family, which became national news when authorities discovered they were behind a series of kidnapping and murders, is a compelling work that uses Argentina’s historical context as backdrop. . Almodovar’s El Deseo, the company behind the Oscar-nominated “Wild Tales”, produced the film.
Read More: 'The Clan Wins' Audience Award At Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival’s Gems
Austria
"Goodnight Mommy" (Ich seh, ich seh)
Dirs. Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Radius-twc
One of the most daring selections is also one the most acclaimed horror films of the year. This art house chiller confronts a pair of mischievous twin boys with their convalescent mother who recently underwent a facial surgery. The thematic and aesthetic elegance that co-directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz employed elevates “Goodnight Mommy” beyond the usual gruesome fare.
Belgium
"The Brand New Testament" (Le tout nouveau testament)
Dir. Jaco Van Dormael
Isa: Le Pacte
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This fantastical take on religion is yet another unique vision from director Jaco Van Dormael, the filmmaker behind such films as “Mr. Nobody.” With a humorous tone, “The Brand New Testament” explores what would happen if God himself lived in a regular apartment in Brussels pretending to be a mortal and finding pleasure in the little things that annoy human life - all of which are orchestrated by him.
Brazil
"The Second Mother" (Que Horas Ela Volta?)
Dir. Anna Muylaert
Isa: The Match Factory
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Pictures
Anna Muylaert’s crowd-pleasing, yet thematically complex gem delves into the intricacies of class in Brazilian society through the eyes of an endearing live-in maid. Regina Casé, in an Oscar-worthy performance, becomes Val, a diligent and humble housekeeper that has worked with the same wealthy family in Sao Paulo for many years and who only questions her role within this environment when her strange daughter comes to visit.
Read More: Anna Muylaert on Why the Protagonist of 'The Second Mother' is a Super Hero
Canada
"Felix & Meira"
Dir. Maxime Giroux
Isa: Urban Distribution International
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
A clandestine romance and the yoke of religion are at the center of Maxime Giroux’s delicate debut feature. Meira (Hadas Yaron is a Hasidic woman who feels trapped by the expectations and limitations imposed her, but when she meets Felix (Martin Dubreuil), a secular man who is equally lost, her vision of the world widens.
Rea More: 'Felix and Meira' Director Maxime Giroux on Understanding Hasidim and Quebecois Isolation
Chile
"The Club" (El Club)
Dir. Pablo Larraín
Isa: Funny Balloons
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
Larrain's latest work follows a group of priests and nuns who live in an isolated beachside town after committing a score of heinous crimes. Though they have the church's protection, there are people out there who are not willing to let impunity prevail. Magnificently written and acted, this dark and piercing drama ranks up there with the director’s best work
Colombia
"Embrace of the Serpent" (El Abrazo de la Serpiente)
Dir. Ciro Guerra
Isa: Films Boutique
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Strikingly beautiful and laced with poetic mysticism, Ciro Guerra’s most accomplished work to date follows the journey of two European explores at particular times in history as they are guided through the Amazon by Karamakate, an imposing local shaman man who is wary of their intentions.
Czech Republic
"Home Care" (Domácí péce)
Dir. Slávek Horák
Isa: M-Appeal
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This very low-key dramedy from first-time director Slávek Horák about a a middle-aged home care nurse, who not only has to look after her patients but also her own family, hasn’t had as much exposure as other films on this list; however, the quality of the performances and the nuanced screenplay have resonated with those who have seen it.
Denmark
"A War" (Krigen)
Dir. Tobias Lindholm
Isa: Studiocanal
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Director Tobias Lindholm follow up to “A Hijacking,” blends gritty action with a courtroom drama in a searing study on guilt and the collateral damage of armed conflicts from the point of view of conflicted family man and company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk). Subtle observations and intricate moral complexity are once again Lindholm's greatest strengths.
Estonia
"1944"
Dir. Elmo Nüganen
Isa: Eyewell Ab
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
After earning its first-ever Academy Award nomination earlier this year, the Eastern European country returns to the race with an impressive historical epic about Estonian soldiers fighting on different sides against their own. The film was directed, who starred in the Oscar-nominated “Tangerines.”
Finland
"The Fencer" (Miekkailija)
Dir. Klaus Härö
Isa: The Little Film Company
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
Finnish filmmaker Klaus Härö takes on an Estonian story about a professional fencer who becomes a physical education teacher in his homeland after leaving Russia to escape the Kgb. This classically executed and elegant period drama offers uplifting moments, romance, and exquisite cinematography.
France
"Mustang"
Dir. Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Isa: Kinology
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Through traditional gender roles and expectations in Turkish society, adults attempt to tame the blossoming womanhood in Deniz Gamze Ergüven's five teenage protagonists. Delicately shot and cast to perfection, this peculiar coming-of-ager is an empowering breath of fresh air that honors freedom and femininity in equal measures.
Read More: 'Mustang' Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven on Femininity in Cinema and French Multiculturalism
Germany
"Labyrinth of Lies" (Im Labyrinth des Schweigens)
Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
In the aftermath of WWII German authorities and the majority of the population refused to acknowledge the magnitude of their involvement in the Holocaust until a driven young prosecutor begins uncovering the truth. Ricciarelli film is a compelling historical drama with a fantastic lead performance by Alexander Fehling at its core.
Read More: Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli and Star Alexander Fehling on the Historical Relevance of 'Labyrinth of Lies' and Germany's Open Wound
Guatemala
"Ixcanul"
Dir. Jayro Bustamante
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Kino Lorber
Bustamante’s Silver Bear-winning ethereal masterpiece in indigenous language is an intimate look at the lives of the country’s Mayan population. Told through the eyes of a teenage girl destined to an arranged marriage, this marvelously photographed film speaks of tradition, modernity, mysticism, male chauvinism, and cultural isolation.
Read More: 'Ixcanul' Director Jayro Bustamante on the Strength of Mayan Women and Guatemala's Indigenous Majority
Hungary
"Son of Saul" (Saul fia)
Dir. László Nemes
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
By far the most incredible debut of the year and one of the best films about the Holocaust ever made, this year’s Grand Prix winner takes the viewer inside the Nazi killing machine from the perspective of the Sonderkommando, a group of Jewish men chosen to carry out all horrific manual labor within the gas chambers. Immersive and devastating, Nemes' stunner is a powerful cinematic statement.
Iceland
"Rams" (Hrútar)
Dir. Grímur Hákonarson
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
A humorous look at brotherhood and pastoral life, this Un Certain Regard-winning dark comedy pays homage to the importance of sheep in the Icelandic cultural identity. When a disease wipes out the entire town’s flock, two estrange siblings, who haven’t spoken to each other in decades, are forced to collaborate in order to save their livelihood.
Ireland
"Viva"
Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Isa: Mongrel International
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Jesus, a young gay man in Havana, only finds relief from his daily struggles when he transforms into a drag performer in front of an eager audience, but when his macho father returns after decades away his dreams are jeopardized. This Irish production set in Cuba is a delightful work that thrives on authenticity and emotionally layered performances.
Read More:'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Jordan
"Theeb" (ذيب)
Dir. Naji Abu Nowar
Isa: Fortissimo Films
U.S. Distribution: Film Movement
Adapting the sensibilities of classic Westerns into a uniquely Middle Eastern setting, this period piece touches on the complicated relationship between the region and the colonial powers via the experiences of a young Bedouin boy who embarks on a mission across the desert. Top-notch filmmaking that twists conventions to depict a singular worldview.
Mexico
"600 Miles" (600 Millas)
Dir. Gabriel Ripstein
Isa: Ndm
U.S. Distribution: Pantelion Films
By focusing on two characters from opposite sides of the border, Gabriel Ripstein’s debut Starring Tim Roth delves into the U.S/Mexico conflictive, yet unavoidable codependency and share responsibility in the fight against organized crime. Guns are at the center of this realist tale in which everyone’s morality is tinged with shades of grey.
The Netherlands
"The Paradise Suite"
Dir. Joost van Ginkel
Isa: Media Luna New Films
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
In this profound multi-narrative film the tumultuous stories of characters from diverse latitudes collide in Amsterdam in unexpected and heartbreaking ways. An Eastern European girl dragged into prostitution, an African man desperate to stay afloat, a war criminal in disguise, a woman seeking revenge, and famous musician and his son struggling to connect, all, in their own way, looking fro redemption.
Norway
"The Wave" (Bølgen)
Dir. Roar Uthaug
Isa: TrustNordisk
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Besides its spectacular, Hollywood-worthy visual effects, what sets this Scandinavian disaster movie apart from less sophisticated American efforts is its interesting character development. While the chaos and destruction on screen is an exhilarating feast, the human aspect is never forgotten and it’s crucial to the Norwegian specificity of the plot.
Romania
"Aferim!"
Dir. Radu Jude
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Big World Pictures
Thematically fascinating and visually impeccable, this black-and-white historical adventure set in the early 19th century solidifies Romanian cinema as one of the most exciting and innovative currents in Europe. Radu Jude’s film centers on the mostly unknown history of Gypsy slavery and how this shaped Romanian society by using a tragicomic tone and timeless aesthetics.
Spain
"Flowers" (Loreak)
Dirs. Jon Garaño & Jose Mari Goenaga
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
The country’s firs Basque-language entry is a soft-spoken drama that juxtaposes the grieving processes of three women after the tragic death of man that touched their lives directly and indirectly. Unpretentious in its concept, yet unexpectedly philosophical, the power of the narrative lies on the actresses that flourish and decay in varying degrees throughout the film.
Sweden
"A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" (En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron)
Dir. Roy Andersson
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
As brilliant as anything Andersson has ever created, the final chapter in his trilogy about the absurdity of what it means to be human is one of the most unconventional cinematic experiences in recent memory. Without the constraints of la traditional plot, this nonlinear treasure uses clever vignettes to talk about death, humor, and the mundane things that define our existence.
Read More: 7 Reasons Why Roy Andersson's Latest Film is a Must-See Philosophical Wonder
Taiwan
"The Assassin" (聶隱娘)
Dir. Hsiao-hsien Hou
Isa: Wild Bunch
U.S. Distribution: Well Go USA Entertainment
Armed with breathtaking cinematography, lavish costumes and production design, and an ancient legend about betrayal and retribution, master Hsiao-hsien Hou obliterates our expectations and delivers a one-of-a-kind martial arts epic that’s more concerned with sensory transcendence than narrative clarity, but is no less of an enthralling experience because of it.
- 12/14/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
2015 European Film Awards winners and nominations Best European Film A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence. En Duva Satt På En Gren Och Funderade På Tillvaron. Sweden, France, Germany, Norway, 96 min. Written and directed by: Roy Andersson. Produced by: Pernilla Sandström. Mustang. France, Germany, Turkey, 100 min. Directed by: Deniz Gamze Ergüven. Written by: Deniz Gamze Ergüven and Alice Winocour. Produced by: Charles Gillibert. Rams. Hrútar. Iceland, Denmark, 93 min. Written and directed by: Grímur Hákonarson. Produced by: Grímar Jónsson. The Lobster. U.K., Ireland, Greece, France, Netherlands, 118 min. Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos. Written by: Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou. Produced by: Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Ceci Dempsey and Yorgos Lanthimos. Victoria. Germany, 138 min. Written and directed by: Sebastian Schipper. Produced by: Jan Dressler. * Youth. Youth – La Giovinezza. Italy, France, U.K., Switzerland, 118 min. Written and directed by: Paolo Sorrentino. Produced by: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima and Carlotta Calori. Best...
- 12/13/2015
- by Mont. Steve
- Alt Film Guide
Rams (Hrútar), directed by Grímur Hákonarson, won the Prize of Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2015 Photo: © Netop Films 2015 Sundance has announced the remaineder of its feature film lineup for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival with the Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Spotlight, Sundance Kids and Special Events sections.
Films from the UK and Ireland were among those announced, including the latest from Amy director Asif Kapadia Ali & Nino - his first fictional outing since Far North in 2007. John Carney's Sing Street - starring Jack Reynor and Aidan Gillan - also joins the Premiere's line-up. The Spotlight section includes several films that premiered in Cannes, including Un Certain Regard winner Rams, Cemetery Of Splendor, Green Room and The Lobster. Established names also in the programme include Werner Herzog, Taika Waititi (Boy, What We Do In The Shadows) and Kelly Kelly Reichardt (Meek's Cutoff, Wendy And Lucy).
Festival director John Cooper said: “The Sundance...
Films from the UK and Ireland were among those announced, including the latest from Amy director Asif Kapadia Ali & Nino - his first fictional outing since Far North in 2007. John Carney's Sing Street - starring Jack Reynor and Aidan Gillan - also joins the Premiere's line-up. The Spotlight section includes several films that premiered in Cannes, including Un Certain Regard winner Rams, Cemetery Of Splendor, Green Room and The Lobster. Established names also in the programme include Werner Herzog, Taika Waititi (Boy, What We Do In The Shadows) and Kelly Kelly Reichardt (Meek's Cutoff, Wendy And Lucy).
Festival director John Cooper said: “The Sundance...
- 12/8/2015
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Mexico’s Kings of Nowhere wins doc prize; Thank You For Bombing wins Switzerland, Germany, Austria award.Scroll down for full list of winners
Grimur Hakonarson’s Rams (Hrútar) has won the Golden Eye for Best International Feature Film at the 11Sth Zurich Film Festival (Sept 24-Oct 4).
The film, about two estranged brothers who have to reunite to save their sheep during an outbreak of disease, is Iceland’s submission for the Oscars for Best Foreign-Language Film.
Zff’s international jury, headed by Carol producer Elizabeth Carlson, awarded the title as well as a cash prize of more than $25,000 (CHF25,000).
It continues a strong festival run for Rams, which won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes in May before going on to screen at Karlovy Vary, Telluride and Toronto among others.
International sales are handled by New Europe Film Sales, which has sold the film to around 40 countries. Cohen Media Group handle Us distribution.
It also marks...
Grimur Hakonarson’s Rams (Hrútar) has won the Golden Eye for Best International Feature Film at the 11Sth Zurich Film Festival (Sept 24-Oct 4).
The film, about two estranged brothers who have to reunite to save their sheep during an outbreak of disease, is Iceland’s submission for the Oscars for Best Foreign-Language Film.
Zff’s international jury, headed by Carol producer Elizabeth Carlson, awarded the title as well as a cash prize of more than $25,000 (CHF25,000).
It continues a strong festival run for Rams, which won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes in May before going on to screen at Karlovy Vary, Telluride and Toronto among others.
International sales are handled by New Europe Film Sales, which has sold the film to around 40 countries. Cohen Media Group handle Us distribution.
It also marks...
- 10/4/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
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