Tom Sommerlatte’s debut Summers Downstairs (Im Sommer wohnt er unten) was picked by the audience at this year’s Oldenburg International Film Festival (Sep 16-20) for the German Independence Award.
The French-German co-production, handled internationally by Arri Worldsales, premiered in the Berlinale’s Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar in February, won Best Feature Film at the Achtung Berlin! festival in April, and was the opening film of Filmfest Schwerin in May.
There were double honours for Sommerlatte at the closing night gala on Sunday (Sep 20) when the nomination jury for the European Film Awards’ European Discovery - Prix Fipresci announced that Summers Downstairs had been chosen as one of five finalists.
The Seymour Cassel Award - in honour of one of Oldenburg’s aficianados - was shared this year for the first time between two actors: actress Sarah Silverman for her performance in I Smile Back and former European Shooting Star Nikola Rakočević for his role in...
The French-German co-production, handled internationally by Arri Worldsales, premiered in the Berlinale’s Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar in February, won Best Feature Film at the Achtung Berlin! festival in April, and was the opening film of Filmfest Schwerin in May.
There were double honours for Sommerlatte at the closing night gala on Sunday (Sep 20) when the nomination jury for the European Film Awards’ European Discovery - Prix Fipresci announced that Summers Downstairs had been chosen as one of five finalists.
The Seymour Cassel Award - in honour of one of Oldenburg’s aficianados - was shared this year for the first time between two actors: actress Sarah Silverman for her performance in I Smile Back and former European Shooting Star Nikola Rakočević for his role in...
- 9/21/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Light-hearted drama won Sundance audience award.
The Oldenburg Film Festival (Sept 16-20) is to close with Umrika, an Indian drama from writer-director Prashant Nair’s that stars Life of Pi’s Suraj Sharma and The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Tony Revolori.
The film, first seen at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the audience award, is set in the mid-1980s and centres on a small village in India that is invigorated when one of their own travels to America and details his adventures through letters home.
But when the letters mysteriously stop, his younger brother Rama ( Sharma) sets out on a journey to find him. With the help of his best friend Lalu (Revolori), Rama retraces his brother’s steps and charts a path of his own.
The Hindi-language film will be jointly released in German cinemas on Nov 19 by Ascot Elite and CaminoFilmverleih.
Highlights at this year’s Oldenburg Film Festival include the world...
The Oldenburg Film Festival (Sept 16-20) is to close with Umrika, an Indian drama from writer-director Prashant Nair’s that stars Life of Pi’s Suraj Sharma and The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Tony Revolori.
The film, first seen at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the audience award, is set in the mid-1980s and centres on a small village in India that is invigorated when one of their own travels to America and details his adventures through letters home.
But when the letters mysteriously stop, his younger brother Rama ( Sharma) sets out on a journey to find him. With the help of his best friend Lalu (Revolori), Rama retraces his brother’s steps and charts a path of his own.
The Hindi-language film will be jointly released in German cinemas on Nov 19 by Ascot Elite and CaminoFilmverleih.
Highlights at this year’s Oldenburg Film Festival include the world...
- 9/4/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Alex Holdridge and Linnea Saasen's Meet Me in Montenegro compares and contrasts the difficulties for anyone to remain happy in a relationship and achieve success in a fulfilling career. The four protagonists haphazardly juggle romantic fantasies with dreams of ideal careers; all the while Holdridge and Saasen keenly observe how the characters' choices, specifically in how they prioritize their lives, impact each of their narrative arcs.
- 8/13/2015
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Meet Me in Montenegro is a romantic comedy about two lovers, a Norwegian dancer and an American filmmaker, who meet by chance during a visit to Berlin. The film is based on the real-life romance between co-writers, producers, and editors Linnea Saasen and Alex Holdridge, who both also star in the film as the fictional portrayals of their real-life characters. On the eve of the German premiere in Munich, I sat down with Saasen, her co-producer Ineke Hagedorn, and co-actress Jenny Ulrich. The Orchard has recently released the film in the U.S. and Canada, and it’s also available on digital […]...
- 7/27/2015
- by Taylor Hess
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Meet Me in Montenegro is a romantic comedy about two lovers, a Norwegian dancer and an American filmmaker, who meet by chance during a visit to Berlin. The film is based on the real-life romance between co-writers, producers, and editors Linnea Saasen and Alex Holdridge, who both also star in the film as the fictional portrayals of their real-life characters. On the eve of the German premiere in Munich, I sat down with Saasen, her co-producer Ineke Hagedorn, and co-actress Jenny Ulrich. The Orchard has recently released the film in the U.S. and Canada, and it’s also available on digital […]...
- 7/27/2015
- by Taylor Hess
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
There are more than a couple of good backstories to the making of “Meet Me in Montenegro,” the peripatetic romance directed by and starring Alex Holdridge and Linnea Saasen that played Toronto last year. There was the crazy Australian subletter who held their hard-drives for a ransom of 800 euros. The very friendly sex club in Berlin. Shooting in London in the middle of the 2012 Olympics. And stumbling upon their co-star, Rupert Friend, because it’s so hard not to notice an actor in L.A. when he’s reading a book. But the real back story behind “Montenegro” is the story of “Montenegro,” which hews so closely to fact that it could be categorized as a documentary. Three years in the making, largely because its directors shot in so many cities and lived out of backpacks, “Meet Me in Montenegro” is about Anderson (Holdridge), a struggling filmmaker who meets Lina...
- 7/8/2015
- by John Anderson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Ewan McGregor, Jane Seymour, Malcolm McDowell and Hong Kong director Johnnie To among the guests set to attend the festival.Scroll down for competition titles
The line-up for the 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has been unveiled this morning by new artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s Eiff (June 17-28) will comprise 164 features from 36 countries, including 24 world premieres, eight international premieres, 16 European premieres and 84 UK premieres.
Highlights including the UK premiere of Asif Kapadia’s documentary Amy, about the life of singer Amy Winehouse; the latest Disney-Pixar animation Inside Out; Arnold Schwarzenegger in zombie drama Maggie; comedy The D-Train, starring Jack Black and James Marsden; and a biopic of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Love & Mercy, in which John Cusack and Paul Dano play different aged versions of the musician.
Classic Screenings will include a rare outing for Noel Marshall’s Roar, a cult 1981 big cat movie.
Star power
This year’s Eiff will present...
The line-up for the 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has been unveiled this morning by new artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s Eiff (June 17-28) will comprise 164 features from 36 countries, including 24 world premieres, eight international premieres, 16 European premieres and 84 UK premieres.
Highlights including the UK premiere of Asif Kapadia’s documentary Amy, about the life of singer Amy Winehouse; the latest Disney-Pixar animation Inside Out; Arnold Schwarzenegger in zombie drama Maggie; comedy The D-Train, starring Jack Black and James Marsden; and a biopic of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Love & Mercy, in which John Cusack and Paul Dano play different aged versions of the musician.
Classic Screenings will include a rare outing for Noel Marshall’s Roar, a cult 1981 big cat movie.
Star power
This year’s Eiff will present...
- 5/27/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Film and TV distributor The Orchard has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to “Meet Me in Montenegro,” which premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in theaters next year. Real-life couple Alex Holdridge (“In Search of a Midnight Kiss”) co-directed the love story with Linnea Saasen, and the duo also star alongside Rupert Friend (“Homeland”) and Jennifer Ulrich. Also read: ‘Homeland’ Star Rupert Friend in Talks to Replace Paul Walker in ‘Agent 47' (Exclusive) Art imitates life in “Meet Me in Montenegro,” as it is closely tied to Holdridge and Saasen's real-life relationship. The film centers around L.
- 10/29/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
The distributor has acquired all Us and Canadian rights to Meet Me In Montenegro and has earmarked a 2015 theatrical release.
Alex Holdridge directed and stars in the recent Toronto premiere about an La-based filmmaker Anderson and a Norwegian dancer who reunite years after their whirlwind romance was cut short.
Linnea Saasen also stars and there is support from Rupert Friend and Jennifer Ulrich.
The Orchard brokered the deal with Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers.
Alex Holdridge directed and stars in the recent Toronto premiere about an La-based filmmaker Anderson and a Norwegian dancer who reunite years after their whirlwind romance was cut short.
Linnea Saasen also stars and there is support from Rupert Friend and Jennifer Ulrich.
The Orchard brokered the deal with Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers.
- 10/29/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
There are more than a couple of good backstories to the making of “Meet Me in Montenegro,” the peripatetic romance directed by and starring Alex Holdridge and Linnea Saasen that plays Toronto this week. There was the crazy Australian subletter who held their hard-drives for a ransom of 800 euros. The very friendly sex club in Berlin. Shooting in London in the middle of the 2012 Olympics. And stumbling upon their co-star, Rupert Friend, because it’s so hard not to notice an actor in L.A. when he’s reading a book. But the real back story behind “Montenegro” is the story of “Montenegro,” which hews so closely to fact that it could be categorized as a documentary. Three years in the making, largely because its directors shot in so many cities and lived out of backpacks, “Meet Me in Montenegro” is about Anderson (Holdridge), a struggling filmmaker who meets Lina...
- 9/10/2014
- by John Anderson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Exclusive: Alex Holdridge and Linea Saasen, the writer/directors in Toronto with Meet Me in Montenegro, are now writing an ambitious TV series to be set in 1945 post-war Berlin.
The project, loosely titled Hour Zero, will be set in the American sector of Berlin. Saasen said: “It’s set at a time when everything is broken and in flux…It’s an interesting moment in time, it’s a city with no rules.”
The series will examine the origins of the CIA and Kgb.
Holdridge, whose previous credits include In Search of a Midnight Kiss, said that “the story will be about crazy characters, based on real people in Berlin at that time…it is such a ragtag way that the CIA was formed.”
He added: “It’s a city that’s alive because it has experienced so much death. 75% of Berlin has been levelled during the war.”
The project is envisioned as an ongoing series and the...
The project, loosely titled Hour Zero, will be set in the American sector of Berlin. Saasen said: “It’s set at a time when everything is broken and in flux…It’s an interesting moment in time, it’s a city with no rules.”
The series will examine the origins of the CIA and Kgb.
Holdridge, whose previous credits include In Search of a Midnight Kiss, said that “the story will be about crazy characters, based on real people in Berlin at that time…it is such a ragtag way that the CIA was formed.”
He added: “It’s a city that’s alive because it has experienced so much death. 75% of Berlin has been levelled during the war.”
The project is envisioned as an ongoing series and the...
- 9/9/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Alex Holdridge and Linea Saasen, the writer/directors in Toronto with Meet Me in Montenegro, are now writing an ambitious TV series to be set in 1945 post-war Berlin.
The project, loosely titled Hour Zero, will be set in the American sector of Berlin. Saasen says: “It’s set at a time when everything is broken and in flux…It’s an interesting moment in time, it’s a city with no rules.”
The series will examine the origins of the CIA and Kgb.
Holdridge, whose previous credits include In Search of a Midnight Kiss, adds that “the story will be about crazy characters, based on real people in Berlin at that time…it is such a ragtag way that the CIA was formed.” He added: “It’s a city that’s alive because it has experienced so much death. 75% of Berlin has been levelled during the war.”
The project is envisioned as an ongoing series and the...
The project, loosely titled Hour Zero, will be set in the American sector of Berlin. Saasen says: “It’s set at a time when everything is broken and in flux…It’s an interesting moment in time, it’s a city with no rules.”
The series will examine the origins of the CIA and Kgb.
Holdridge, whose previous credits include In Search of a Midnight Kiss, adds that “the story will be about crazy characters, based on real people in Berlin at that time…it is such a ragtag way that the CIA was formed.” He added: “It’s a city that’s alive because it has experienced so much death. 75% of Berlin has been levelled during the war.”
The project is envisioned as an ongoing series and the...
- 9/9/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
If you wanted a snapshot of worldly issues then Tiff’s Contemporary World Cinema programme would certainly serve as a whirlwind passport. Loaded in Cannes Film Festival preemed items receiving their North American Premiere debuts (Jessica Hausner’s Amour Fou, Mélanie Laurent’s Breathe , Bruno Dumont’s P’tit Quinquin and Pascale Ferran’s Bird People are are just the tip of the iceberg) Tiff programmers have landed world premiere items from the likes of Cristián Jiménez, Ole Christian Madsen, Alex Holdridge & Linnea Saasen (we pic above) and Baran bo Odar. Along with the Canadian items mentioned last week, Here is the largest section’s offerings for 2014.
“Aire Libre,” Anahí Berneri, Argentina / International Premiere
“Amour Fou,” Jessica Hausner, Austria/Luxembourg/Germany / North American Premiere
“Behavior” (“Conducta”), Ernesto Daranas, Cuba / Canadian Premiere
“Bird People,” Pascale Ferran, France / North American Premiere
“Black Souls” (“Anime Nere”), Francesco Munzi, Italy / International Premiere
“Breathe” (“Respire”), Mélanie Laurent,...
“Aire Libre,” Anahí Berneri, Argentina / International Premiere
“Amour Fou,” Jessica Hausner, Austria/Luxembourg/Germany / North American Premiere
“Behavior” (“Conducta”), Ernesto Daranas, Cuba / Canadian Premiere
“Bird People,” Pascale Ferran, France / North American Premiere
“Black Souls” (“Anime Nere”), Francesco Munzi, Italy / International Premiere
“Breathe” (“Respire”), Mélanie Laurent,...
- 8/12/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
This morning the Toronto Film Festival added several more films to their lineup including the world premiere of Thomas McCarthy's The Cobbler which stars Adam Sandler as a New York City cobbler who, disenchanted with the grind of daily life, stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way. The film co-stars Method Man, Ellen Barkin, Melonie Diaz, Dan Stevens, Steve Buscemi and Dustin Hoffman. Additionally, Sundance standouts Infinity Polar Bear and Laggies starring Keira Knightley and Chloe Grace Moretz were added to the Gala selection. Joining The Cobbler as new additions to the Special Presentations field include Olivier Assayas' Clouds of Sils Maria starring Kristen Stewart and Juliette Binoche and Two Days, One Night from Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne and starring Marion Cotillard. Both films made a splash at Cannes earlier this year,...
- 8/12/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Toronto film festival organisers have programmed features from 42 countries in the Contemporary World Cinema (Cwc) programme and unveiled eight South Korean selections in the City To City.
Cwc features latest work by Jessica Hausner, Rolf de Heer, Christian Zübert and Ryuichi Hiroki, among others.
For the third year, Tiff (Sept 4-14) has partnered with the University of Toronto’s Munk School Of Global Affairs on the Contemporary World Speakers series, pairing five films in selection with expert scholars.
The Contemporary World Speakers series is programmed in conjunction with the Tiff Adult Learning department.
Contemporary World Cinema
Wp = World premiere / Nap = North American premiere / IP = International premiere / Cp = Canadian premiere.
Aire Libre (Argentina), Anahí Berneri IP
Amour Fou (Austria-Luxembourg-Germany), Jessica Hausner Nap
Behavior (Conducta) (Cuba), Ernesto Daranas Cp
Bird People (France), Pascale Ferran Nap
Black Souls (Anime Nere) (Italy), Francesco Munzi IP
Breathe (Respire) (France), Mélanie Laurent Nap
Charlie’s Country (Australia), Rolf de Heer Nap
*John Stackhouse...
Cwc features latest work by Jessica Hausner, Rolf de Heer, Christian Zübert and Ryuichi Hiroki, among others.
For the third year, Tiff (Sept 4-14) has partnered with the University of Toronto’s Munk School Of Global Affairs on the Contemporary World Speakers series, pairing five films in selection with expert scholars.
The Contemporary World Speakers series is programmed in conjunction with the Tiff Adult Learning department.
Contemporary World Cinema
Wp = World premiere / Nap = North American premiere / IP = International premiere / Cp = Canadian premiere.
Aire Libre (Argentina), Anahí Berneri IP
Amour Fou (Austria-Luxembourg-Germany), Jessica Hausner Nap
Behavior (Conducta) (Cuba), Ernesto Daranas Cp
Bird People (France), Pascale Ferran Nap
Black Souls (Anime Nere) (Italy), Francesco Munzi IP
Breathe (Respire) (France), Mélanie Laurent Nap
Charlie’s Country (Australia), Rolf de Heer Nap
*John Stackhouse...
- 8/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Kids. Such as Sex, Lies, and Videotape or Reservoir Dogs before it, and such as Winter’s Bone, Blue Valentine and Fruitvale Station after it, Larry Clark & Harmony Korine’s seminal film is forever connected in “spirit” to the lieu where it received its secret midnight premiere screening in 1995. The Sundance Film Festival might be known as the birthplace of U.S indie filmmaking innovation, avant-gardism, a larger definition of the low budgeted film response to Hollywood in not only narrative but in the non-fiction form, but it is a festival made strong by its renewal and familiarity. That close acquaintanceness exists in Kids‘ starlets Rosario Dawson and Chloë Sevigny filmography/career path trajectory and connection to Park City (both have several indie films slated for ’14 – of which I’ve included in our predictions list) and it is that “familiarity” that is visibly noticeable in how I map out my annual predictions list.
- 11/18/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Over the long weekend, plenty of folks got the news that they’ve had their feature, doc or short films accepted into the Sundance Film Festival. This Wednesday, the festival begins making their line-up official while keeping the short film announcements for the following week. The previous week we’ve made some prognostications as to what should be included in the 2013 edition. Here’s an easy to click recap of some of those predictions. We’ve added those who’ve been mentioned in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film, the fortunate ones who’ve had their work run inside the Sundance Labs, those who are working from a Blacklist named screenplay, those who are basing their feature on a short film that was accepted into the festival in a previous edition and finally those who’ve had funding via Kickstarter. * denotes feature directorial debut while ++ denotes that person...
- 11/26/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
The timing might be just right for John Cassavetes Award for The Best Independent Film of 2009 winner Alex Holdridge to break into Sundance. I imagine he tried with his previous three features, Wrong Numbers (2001), Sexless (2003), and the SXSW selected In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2008), but his latest, Meet Me In Montenegro appears to be a better fit. Teamed with his dp Robert Murphy, this was filmed in Berlin, Los Angeles and the titular Montenegro and stars Rupert Friend and Deborah Ann Woll (pictured above on set).
Gist: Linnea Saasen’s screenplay sees a failed European dancer who has a chance meeting in Berlin and starts an affair despite the fact that they are moving to opposite ends of the earth. Rupert Friend plays the writer’s best friend who is in a fading relationship and toys with the idea of taking his girlfriend – played by Jennifer Ulrich (The Wave) – to a sex club.
Gist: Linnea Saasen’s screenplay sees a failed European dancer who has a chance meeting in Berlin and starts an affair despite the fact that they are moving to opposite ends of the earth. Rupert Friend plays the writer’s best friend who is in a fading relationship and toys with the idea of taking his girlfriend – played by Jennifer Ulrich (The Wave) – to a sex club.
- 11/21/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Good projects never really die, but sometimes it takes a bit of time for the right set of circumstances to come along to make them happen. Back in 2010, "The F Word" was gearing up with backing from Fox Searchlight, with "In Search Of A Midnight Kiss" director Alex Holdridge at the helm, Casey Affleck attached to star, and Rose Byrne, Rebecca Hall, Deborah Ann Woll and Mary Elizabeth Winstead all vying for the female lead. The project ultimately never came together, but it has found new life with two very able actors. Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan have joined the picture that has now moved out of Fox Searchlight and is set up at Entertainment One which has the worldwide rights to the film. Michael Dowse ("Fubar," "Take Me Home Tonight," "Goon") now takes the director's chair. Based on the play "Cigars and Toothpaste" by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi,...
- 7/17/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
As expected, Alex Holdridge’s inspirational interview — about the creative boost he received from making a life change and swapping L.A. and “the system” for a very different life in Berlin — prompted some spirited discussion in the comments section.
In case you read the article but not any of the dialogue that followed on from it, it’s definitely worth flagging up one of the comments — from Holdridge himself — that responded to director Zak Forsman’s list of things he loved about Los Angeles.
Here’s what Holdridge had to say:
I spent 8 years living there, making a film and writing many scripts. It offers all you said and more. As a point of clarification, of course I will be going to La frequently to meet with actors and people in the industry. In fact, part of the new film takes place in La. I simply needed new inspiration...
In case you read the article but not any of the dialogue that followed on from it, it’s definitely worth flagging up one of the comments — from Holdridge himself — that responded to director Zak Forsman’s list of things he loved about Los Angeles.
Here’s what Holdridge had to say:
I spent 8 years living there, making a film and writing many scripts. It offers all you said and more. As a point of clarification, of course I will be going to La frequently to meet with actors and people in the industry. In fact, part of the new film takes place in La. I simply needed new inspiration...
- 5/21/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
I fell in love with Alex Holdridge’s gorgeous, smart black-and-white La-set romantic comedy In Search of a Midnight Kiss when I saw it on the film festival circuit in 2007, and later interviewed Holdridge for Filmmaker when Kiss was released theatrically in 2008.
In the intervening years, Holdridge and I were in occasional contact, and through Facebook I was aware that he had left L.A. and decamped to Berlin. But little more than that.
When I read earlier this spring that he was in postproduction on his follow-up feature, Meet Me in Montenegro – a film co-written by and co-starring Holdridge himself and the Norwegian newcomer Linnea Saasen – I dropped him a line to find out more about the film and its genesis.
The following conversation is a composite of our back and forth over email and Skype.
Filmmaker: So, tell me about the new film.
Holdridge: It’s inspired by an exodus from Los Angeles,...
In the intervening years, Holdridge and I were in occasional contact, and through Facebook I was aware that he had left L.A. and decamped to Berlin. But little more than that.
When I read earlier this spring that he was in postproduction on his follow-up feature, Meet Me in Montenegro – a film co-written by and co-starring Holdridge himself and the Norwegian newcomer Linnea Saasen – I dropped him a line to find out more about the film and its genesis.
The following conversation is a composite of our back and forth over email and Skype.
Filmmaker: So, tell me about the new film.
Holdridge: It’s inspired by an exodus from Los Angeles,...
- 5/8/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
'In Search Of A Midnight Kiss' Helmer Alex Holdridge Wraps Sophomore Feature 'Meet Me In Montenegro'
Director Alex Holdridge made a splash back in 2007 with his debut feature, "In Search of a Midnight Kiss." That distinctly indie romantic comedy was both written and directed by Holdridge, won him an Independent Spirit Award and cropped up on a number of top ten lists as well. His sophomore feature is, in some quarters at least, highly anticipated and so it's encouraging to hear that we aren't too far away from seeing it.
After a 6-week shoot in the U.S., Germany and Montenegro, Holdridge has just wrapped his sophomore film "Meet Me In Montenegro." Holdridge himself stars in the comedy as a failed American writer who has a chance encounter with a failed European dancer (newcomer Linnea Saasen, with whom Holdridge also co-wrote the script) and the two start up an affair. Keira Knightley's former beau Rupert Friend ("The Young Victoria") plays the writer's best friend who...
After a 6-week shoot in the U.S., Germany and Montenegro, Holdridge has just wrapped his sophomore film "Meet Me In Montenegro." Holdridge himself stars in the comedy as a failed American writer who has a chance encounter with a failed European dancer (newcomer Linnea Saasen, with whom Holdridge also co-wrote the script) and the two start up an affair. Keira Knightley's former beau Rupert Friend ("The Young Victoria") plays the writer's best friend who...
- 3/27/2012
- by Joe Cunningham
- The Playlist
Exclusive: True Blood creator Alan Ball is in the center of a pitch deal that just went down at Paramount. Ball will direct and produce an untitled project that will be written by Elan Mastai. The project, which Ball will produce solo through his HBO-based Your Face Goes Here Entertainment shingle, is a dark comedy with a twist, insiders say. Ball hatched the idea and fleshed it out with Mastai. Paramount acquired it in a bidding situation. Ball created HBO's True Blood and Six Feet Under and on the feature front, Ball made his directorial debut on Towelhead, also writing and producing the adaptation of the Alicia Erian novel. He won an Oscar for his feature scripting debut on American Beauty. Mastai wrote The F-Word, a project that made the Black List and is gearing up for a production start at Fox Searchlight with Alex Holdridge directing and Casey Affleck reportedly going to star.
- 11/1/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Photos galore today including new stills from 127 Hours, Little White Lies, The Debt, The Tempest, Vanishing on 7th Street, Fair Game, The Winning Season, Never Let Me Go, Miral and Somewhere.
There's also promo photos of Lindsay Lohan for Inferno, and shots from the sets of Moneyball and Dark Tide.
""X-Men: First Class" and "Kick Ass" director says one reason why he took the 'X-Men' gig is that superhero films have "been mined to death and in some cases the quality control is not what it’s supposed to be. People are just going to get bored of it"..." (full details)
"Ving Rhames confirmed on the late-night TBS talk show Lopez Tonight on Wednesday last week that he will return for "Mission: Impossible 4"..." (full details)
"Warner Bros is reportedly keen to take advantage of the New Orleans' tax incentives, which they're currently using for Martin Campbell's "Green Lantern", on...
There's also promo photos of Lindsay Lohan for Inferno, and shots from the sets of Moneyball and Dark Tide.
""X-Men: First Class" and "Kick Ass" director says one reason why he took the 'X-Men' gig is that superhero films have "been mined to death and in some cases the quality control is not what it’s supposed to be. People are just going to get bored of it"..." (full details)
"Ving Rhames confirmed on the late-night TBS talk show Lopez Tonight on Wednesday last week that he will return for "Mission: Impossible 4"..." (full details)
"Warner Bros is reportedly keen to take advantage of the New Orleans' tax incentives, which they're currently using for Martin Campbell's "Green Lantern", on...
- 8/9/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Casey Affleck is in talks to star in Fox Searchlight's romantic comedy "The F-Word." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alex Holdridge will direct from a script by Elan Mastai.The film is based on the play "Cigars and Toothpaste" by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi and revolves around a young man who falls in love with a woman but hides his feelings for her until she reciprocates.Russell Smith and Liane Halfon of Mr. Mudd Productions, Mark Costa and Ford Oelman of Nho Entertainment and Marc Stephenson of Sheep Noir are producing.Affleck most recently starred in "The Killer Inside Me," and directed the upcoming documentary about Joaquin Phoenix, "I'm Still Here."...
- 7/27/2010
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
Casey Affleck is currently circling the lead role in "The F-Word" for Fox Searchlight says The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi's play "Cigars and Toothpaste", Affleck would play a young man who falls for a young woman but hides his attraction for her until she reciprocates.
Alex Holdridge ("In Search Of A Midnight Kiss") directs from a script by Elan Mastai ("Alone In The Dark"). Russell Smith, Marc Stephenson, Mark Costa, Ford Oelman and Liane Halfon will produce.
Based on T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi's play "Cigars and Toothpaste", Affleck would play a young man who falls for a young woman but hides his attraction for her until she reciprocates.
Alex Holdridge ("In Search Of A Midnight Kiss") directs from a script by Elan Mastai ("Alone In The Dark"). Russell Smith, Marc Stephenson, Mark Costa, Ford Oelman and Liane Halfon will produce.
- 7/26/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Casey Affleck (The Killer Inside Me) is in negotiations to feature in the romantic comedy, F-Word. The film, set to be directed by Alex Holdridge (In Search of a Midnight Kiss), will be based on T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi’s play Cigars and Toothpaste. Synopsis: A story of a young man and woman who struggle to navigate their friendship, which has developed a deep romantic undercurrent. Elan Mastai has wrote the script, while Mr. Mudd Productions, Nho Entertainment and Sleep Noir will co-produce the film. Fox Searchlight will distribute. The film is likely to shoot towards the end of this year, with a release likely for 2011.
- 7/24/2010
- by Jamie Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Not so fast; there are a ton of "f words" out there that aren't expletives. In fact, in this case, the title The F-Word is referring to friendship, not you know what. Okay, maybe that just took some of the fun out of this film, but considering Casey Affleck is in negations to star does mean the it's got potential.
According to THR, the Fox Searchlight romantic comedy will be directed by Alex Holdridge, a writing, directing and acting triple threat with a short list of credits, none of which I'm too familiar with. His 2008 film In Search of a Midnight Kiss is rocking a 84% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics praising his ability to convey the relationship between his leads, something that will come in handy when working on The F-Word.
Elan Mastai's script is based on T.J. Sawe and Michael Rinaldi's play Cigars and Toothpaste about a...
According to THR, the Fox Searchlight romantic comedy will be directed by Alex Holdridge, a writing, directing and acting triple threat with a short list of credits, none of which I'm too familiar with. His 2008 film In Search of a Midnight Kiss is rocking a 84% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics praising his ability to convey the relationship between his leads, something that will come in handy when working on The F-Word.
Elan Mastai's script is based on T.J. Sawe and Michael Rinaldi's play Cigars and Toothpaste about a...
- 7/24/2010
- by Perri Nemiroff
- Cinematical
Weird double piece of good new, bad news regarding Casey Affleck on this Friday evening. First, Affleck's private life is about to become a carnival show of its own. This is related to some stunts on I'm Still Here. The good news portion: Affleck the actor is taking the lead in a Fox Searchlight rom com that has been mounted with indie helmer Alex Holdridge in the director's chair. In a Duplass bros. like scenario, Holdrige is moving from small indie In Search of a Midnight Kiss, to big "indie" with The F-Word. His debut film won the Independent Spirit's John Cassavetes Award - for films under 500,000 budget. Based on the play "Cigars and Toothpaste" by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi, scripted by Elan Mastai, this revolves around a young man named Wallace and woman whose budding romance threatens their friendship. The screenplay was a Black List favorite and...
- 7/24/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Casey Affleck is in negotiations to star in Fox Searchlight's "The F-Word," the "f word" in this case being friendship: Elan Mastai's script revolves around a young man who falls for a young woman but hides his attraction for her until she can admit to reciprocal feelings.
Alex Holdridge is set to direct the romantic comedy based on the play "Cigars and Toothpaste" by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi.
Producing are Russell Smith and Liane Halfon of Mr. Mudd Prods., Mark Costa and Ford Oelman of Nho Entertainment and Marc Stephenson of Sheep Noir.
Affleck, repped by Wme and Brillstein Entertainment, most recently starred in the noir-ish "The Killer Inside Me," and has directed the upcoming documentary about Joaquin Phoenix, "I'm Still Here."...
Alex Holdridge is set to direct the romantic comedy based on the play "Cigars and Toothpaste" by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi.
Producing are Russell Smith and Liane Halfon of Mr. Mudd Prods., Mark Costa and Ford Oelman of Nho Entertainment and Marc Stephenson of Sheep Noir.
Affleck, repped by Wme and Brillstein Entertainment, most recently starred in the noir-ish "The Killer Inside Me," and has directed the upcoming documentary about Joaquin Phoenix, "I'm Still Here."...
- 7/23/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday and Matthew Belloni
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hipster hero Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer) is in final negotiations to star in action flick Premium Rush, and may star in the thriller Looper. My guess is that Gordon-Levitt will have a tough time getting away from the bad guys though, because it's really difficult to run in skinny jeans. [THR] Nerdgasm alert: Stan Lee is teaming with the History channel for Stan Lee's Superhumans, a show that follows the comic book icon as he discovers people whose genetics give them remarkable abilities. That sound you just heard was Sheldon exploding. [THR] Sam Rockwell will play a bar owner in...
- 5/4/2010
- by Kate Ward
- EW.com - PopWatch
Fox Searchlight may branch out into other genres, like the musty biopic Amelia or the animated wonder Fantastic Mr. Fox, but they know their bread and butter: quirky, candy-colored comedies, usually romantic ones, and frequently starring attractive young white people. From Little Miss Sunshine to Juno to (500) Days of Summer, these guys have their formula down pat, and they don't seem to be giving up on it any time soon. The next one, according to The La Times, will be The F-Word, about a young man and woman trying to balance both friendship and romance-- the "f-word" is technically "friendship," but I imagine another four-letter one gets involved too. The director will be Alex Holdridge, whose In Search of a Midnight Kiss got very little mainstream attention, but won the John Cassavetes Award at the 2009 Independent Spirits, and was named by the National Board of Review as one of the...
- 5/4/2010
- cinemablend.com
Alex Holdridge ("In Search Of A Midnight Kiss") has signed on to direct the romantic comedy "The F Word" at Fox Searchlight reports The Film Stage.
Elan Mastai's 2008 Black List script follows two twenty-somethings who meet at a party and have instant chemistry. The two attempt to ignore their attraction and become platonic friends as she has a long-term boyfriend.
Russell Smith is producing. Searchlight picked up the script last Summer.
Elan Mastai's 2008 Black List script follows two twenty-somethings who meet at a party and have instant chemistry. The two attempt to ignore their attraction and become platonic friends as she has a long-term boyfriend.
Russell Smith is producing. Searchlight picked up the script last Summer.
- 5/4/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Fox Searchlight has signed In Search of a Midnight Kiss helmer Alex Holdridge to direct The F-Word, a screenplay which was listed on the 2008 Black List (an insider Hollywood listing of the best unproduced screenplays of the year). The biggest surprise about the F-Word is that it isn't the four letter word Fuck. It's "Friend". Based on the play ”Thoothpaste and Cigars” by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi, and written by Elan Mastai, whose previous credits include Alone in the Dark, Mvp: Most Vertical Primate and Sk8 Life. But don't let those credits scare you off, this screenplay has been making a lot of buzz around town.The impression that I get is that it's a romantic dramedy for people who don't usually like those type of movies. The story is described as a story about “Two best friends struggle with falling in love without ruining the bond between them.
- 5/4/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
You can see our gallery of top New Year's movies here - but most of them are about pivotal New Year's scenes, not entire movies devoted to New Year's. Alex Holdridge's acclaimed indie film In Search of a Midnight Kiss from 2008 is one film that revolves around New Year's Eve. It's a funny, quirky, romantic, and real story that I hope will become the It's A Wonderful Life of Dec. 31 for years to come. If you haven't seen it, it's perfect viewing as you ponder the start of a new year -- but be warned, you might get an...
- 12/31/2009
- by Wendy Mitchell
- EW.com - PopWatch
Chances are, if you're reading this site, you've heard of the word "mumblecore." You may have even used it in a sentence - as in, "What's with all these mumblecore films at SXSW?" It's a term that's been kicking around for a few years, used by anyone but those who would be called mumblecore to describe a brand of American indie film with particular hallmarks: low budgets, improvised dialogue, twentysomethings talking at length about life and sometimes love, and non-professional actors (or those who just act like it). It seems reductive, but you know a mumblecore film when you see it.
Last week, the New York Times poured attention on what was dubbed "Planet Mumblecore" - a socially connected sphere of indie filmmaking where any small budgeted independent film of a certain type seemingly earned the label. A new class of so-called mumblecore filmmakers posed for a cheeky group photo in designer duds ("Eric Kutner,...
Last week, the New York Times poured attention on what was dubbed "Planet Mumblecore" - a socially connected sphere of indie filmmaking where any small budgeted independent film of a certain type seemingly earned the label. A new class of so-called mumblecore filmmakers posed for a cheeky group photo in designer duds ("Eric Kutner,...
- 12/15/2009
- by Jen Yamato
- Cinematical
Film Independent has rounded up such panelists as John August, Michael London and Cathy Schulman to take part in its fifth annual Filmmaker Forum, which will be held Oct. 9-11 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.
The three-day forum includes panel discussions, case studies and networking with filmmakers and industry leaders.
Speakers will include: Richard Abramowitz, Abramorama Entertainment; Claire Aguilar, Itvs; writer-director August; Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting; producer Seth Caplan; journalist Michael Cieply; director Laura Gabbert; director Alex Holdridge; Kevin Iwashina, IP Advisors/Hunting Lane Films; director Scott Kennedy; Richard Klubeck, UTA; producer Ted Kroeber; producer London; Rena Ronson; producer Cathy Schulman; director Matt Tyrnauer; and president Laurie Woodrow.
The three-day forum includes panel discussions, case studies and networking with filmmakers and industry leaders.
Speakers will include: Richard Abramowitz, Abramorama Entertainment; Claire Aguilar, Itvs; writer-director August; Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting; producer Seth Caplan; journalist Michael Cieply; director Laura Gabbert; director Alex Holdridge; Kevin Iwashina, IP Advisors/Hunting Lane Films; director Scott Kennedy; Richard Klubeck, UTA; producer Ted Kroeber; producer London; Rena Ronson; producer Cathy Schulman; director Matt Tyrnauer; and president Laurie Woodrow.
Voters at the 24th Annual Spirit Awards christened "The Wrestler" as the Best Picture of the year! Mickey Rourke beat out "Milk's" Sean Penn for the Best Actor trophy!
But "Milk's" screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black took home the trophy for the Best First Screenplay award, and James Franco won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Harvey Milk's lover, Scott Smith.
I am also loving Miss Melissa Leo's win for Best Female Lead for "Frozen River." If you guys haven't seen that film yet, please watch it, I love Leo's performance in it!
Here's the complete list of the 24th Annual Spirit Awards winners:
Supporting male
James Franco "Milk"
First screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
First feature
Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York"
Supporting female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
John Cassavetes Award given to the best feature made for less than $500,000
Alex Holdridge's "In...
But "Milk's" screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black took home the trophy for the Best First Screenplay award, and James Franco won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Harvey Milk's lover, Scott Smith.
I am also loving Miss Melissa Leo's win for Best Female Lead for "Frozen River." If you guys haven't seen that film yet, please watch it, I love Leo's performance in it!
Here's the complete list of the 24th Annual Spirit Awards winners:
Supporting male
James Franco "Milk"
First screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
First feature
Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York"
Supporting female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
John Cassavetes Award given to the best feature made for less than $500,000
Alex Holdridge's "In...
- 2/22/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" won best picture Saturday at the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards. The film also won best cinematography for Maryse Alberti and best actor for Mickey Rourke.
The award for best director went to Tom McCarthy for "The Visitor." Woody Allen took home the prize for best screenplay for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
Also among the winners were Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York," which was named best first feature, and Dustin Lance Black, who won the award for best first screenplay for "Milk."
The best supporting female award went to Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," while James Franco picked up the prize for "Milk." Meanwhile, Melissa Leo won best actress for "Frozen River."
Other winners included Laurent Cantet's "The Class" (best foreign film) and James Marsh's "Man on Wire" (best documentary).
Alex Holdridge's "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" took home the John...
The award for best director went to Tom McCarthy for "The Visitor." Woody Allen took home the prize for best screenplay for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
Also among the winners were Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York," which was named best first feature, and Dustin Lance Black, who won the award for best first screenplay for "Milk."
The best supporting female award went to Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," while James Franco picked up the prize for "Milk." Meanwhile, Melissa Leo won best actress for "Frozen River."
Other winners included Laurent Cantet's "The Class" (best foreign film) and James Marsh's "Man on Wire" (best documentary).
Alex Holdridge's "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" took home the John...
- 2/22/2009
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
Fox Searchlight's "The Wrestler" was named best feature at the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards. It also scored trophies for actor Mickey Rourke and cinematograper Maryse Alberti.
"The thing I love about the Spirit Awards is every film here is a passion piece; we all bled to get to this room," director-producer Darren Aronofksy said as he accepted the award with fellow producer Scott Franklin at the free-wheeling ceremony held Saturday in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.
"I realized while doing special effects on a space movie that I really loved working with actors more than anything else," Aronofsky said about his decision to make a movie about a washed-up wrestler trying to reclaim his life.
In the weekend's first showdown between Rourke and "Milk's" Sean Penn, it was Rourke who triumphed as best male lead.
In a raucous acceptance speech, in which he freely lobbed...
"The thing I love about the Spirit Awards is every film here is a passion piece; we all bled to get to this room," director-producer Darren Aronofksy said as he accepted the award with fellow producer Scott Franklin at the free-wheeling ceremony held Saturday in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.
"I realized while doing special effects on a space movie that I really loved working with actors more than anything else," Aronofsky said about his decision to make a movie about a washed-up wrestler trying to reclaim his life.
In the weekend's first showdown between Rourke and "Milk's" Sean Penn, it was Rourke who triumphed as best male lead.
In a raucous acceptance speech, in which he freely lobbed...
- 2/21/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Editors Note: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors of films nominated for the John Cassavetes Award or Best First Feature Award at the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards. Alex Holdridge’s film “In Search of a Midnight Kiss” is a nominee for the John Cassavetes Award at the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards. From the Independent Spirit Awards’ website: Wilson has just had the worst year of …...
- 2/18/2009
- indieWIRE - People
Family drama "Rachel Getting Married", border-smuggling saga "Frozen River" and struggling mother tale "Ballast" have shown their domination on the run for the 2009 Spirit Awards. Upon the announcement of the awards' nominees on Tuesday, December 2, it has been revealed that those three films have collected six counts each.
From all of the nominations "Rachel", "Frozen" and "Ballast" received, the three will have to go head-to-head for best feature title along with "Wendy and Lucy" and "The Wrestler". Their directors, Jonathan Demme, Courtney Hunt and Lance Hammer, will also compete for the best director prize which also lists Ramin Bahrani of "Chop Shop" and Tom McCarthy of "The Visitor" as the competitors.
On the performer categories, it is uncovered that Javier Bardem of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", Sean Penn of "Milk" and Mickey Rourke of "The Wrestler" are among the contenders for best male lead. Additionally, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams have...
From all of the nominations "Rachel", "Frozen" and "Ballast" received, the three will have to go head-to-head for best feature title along with "Wendy and Lucy" and "The Wrestler". Their directors, Jonathan Demme, Courtney Hunt and Lance Hammer, will also compete for the best director prize which also lists Ramin Bahrani of "Chop Shop" and Tom McCarthy of "The Visitor" as the competitors.
On the performer categories, it is uncovered that Javier Bardem of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", Sean Penn of "Milk" and Mickey Rourke of "The Wrestler" are among the contenders for best male lead. Additionally, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams have...
- 12/3/2008
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
By Stephen Saito
Jason Bateman and Sandra Oh braved the early call time this morning in Los Angeles to announce this year's nominees for the Spirit Awards. The awards will take place on February 21st, and will be broadcast live and uncut on IFC at 5pm Et/2pm PT. Here are the nominees:
Best Feature
"Ballast"
Producers: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
"Frozen River"
Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae
"Rachel Getting Married"
Producers: Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt
"Wendy and Lucy"
Producers: Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
"The Wrestler"
Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin
Best Director
Ramin Bahrani, "Chop Shop"
Jonathan Demme, "Rachel Getting Married"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Thomas McCarthy, "The Visitor"
Best First Feature
"Afterschool"
Director: Antonio Campos
Producers: Sean Durkin, Josh Mond
"Medicine for Melancholy"
Director: Barry Jenkins
Producer: Justin Barber
"Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Director: Christopher Zalla
Producers: Per Melita, Benjamin Odell
"Sleep Dealer"
Director: Alex Rivera
Producer: Anthony Bregman
"Synechdoce, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel
John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
"In Search of a Midnight Kiss"
Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge
Producers: Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy
"Prince of Broadway"
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Darren Dean
Producer: Darren Dean
"The Signal"
Writer/Directors: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Producers: Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motiagh
"Take Out"
Writer/Directors/Producers: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou
"Turn the River"
Writer/Director: Chris Eigeman
Producer: Ami Armstrong
Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Jonathan Levine, "The Wackness"
Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Screenplay
Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, "Sugar"
Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"
Howard A. Rodman, "Savage Grace"
Christopher Zalla, "Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Best Female Lead
Summer Bishil, "Towelhead"
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Tarra Riggs, "Ballast"
Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy"
Best Male Lead
Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Best Supporting Female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Rosemarie DeWitt, "Rachel Getting Married"
Rosie Perez, "The Take"
Misty Upham, "Frozen River"
Debra Winger, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Supporting Male
James Franco, "Milk"
Anthony Mackie, "The Hurt Locker"
Charlie McDermott, "Frozen River"
JimMyron Ross, "Ballast"
Haaz Sleiman, "The Visitor"
Best Cinematography
Maryse Alberti, "The Wrestler"
Lol Crowley, "Ballast"
James Laxton, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Harris Savides, "Milk"
Michael Simmonds, "Chop Shop"
Best Documentary
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
"Encounters at the End of the World"
Director: Werner Herzog
"Man on Wire"
Director: James Marsh
"The Order of Myths"
Director: Margaret Brown
"Up the Yangtze"
Director: Yung Chang
Best Foreign Film
"The Class" (France)
Director: Laurent Cantet
"Gomorrah" (Italy)
Director: Matteo Garrone
"Hunger" (UK/Ireland)
Director: Steve McQueen
"Secret of the Grain" (France)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
"Silent Light" (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Robert Altman Award (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)
"Synecdoche, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams
Someone to Watch Award
Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Nina Paley, "Sita Sings the Blues"
Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brilliance"
Truer Than Fiction Award
Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"
Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil"
Darius Marder, "Loot"
Producers Award
Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy, "Treeless Mountain" and "I'll Come Running"
Jason Orans, "Goodbye Solo" and "Year of the Fish"
Heather Rae, "Frozen River" and "Ibid"...
Jason Bateman and Sandra Oh braved the early call time this morning in Los Angeles to announce this year's nominees for the Spirit Awards. The awards will take place on February 21st, and will be broadcast live and uncut on IFC at 5pm Et/2pm PT. Here are the nominees:
Best Feature
"Ballast"
Producers: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
"Frozen River"
Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae
"Rachel Getting Married"
Producers: Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt
"Wendy and Lucy"
Producers: Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
"The Wrestler"
Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin
Best Director
Ramin Bahrani, "Chop Shop"
Jonathan Demme, "Rachel Getting Married"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Thomas McCarthy, "The Visitor"
Best First Feature
"Afterschool"
Director: Antonio Campos
Producers: Sean Durkin, Josh Mond
"Medicine for Melancholy"
Director: Barry Jenkins
Producer: Justin Barber
"Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Director: Christopher Zalla
Producers: Per Melita, Benjamin Odell
"Sleep Dealer"
Director: Alex Rivera
Producer: Anthony Bregman
"Synechdoce, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel
John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
"In Search of a Midnight Kiss"
Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge
Producers: Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy
"Prince of Broadway"
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Darren Dean
Producer: Darren Dean
"The Signal"
Writer/Directors: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Producers: Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motiagh
"Take Out"
Writer/Directors/Producers: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou
"Turn the River"
Writer/Director: Chris Eigeman
Producer: Ami Armstrong
Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Jonathan Levine, "The Wackness"
Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Screenplay
Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, "Sugar"
Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"
Howard A. Rodman, "Savage Grace"
Christopher Zalla, "Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Best Female Lead
Summer Bishil, "Towelhead"
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Tarra Riggs, "Ballast"
Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy"
Best Male Lead
Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Best Supporting Female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Rosemarie DeWitt, "Rachel Getting Married"
Rosie Perez, "The Take"
Misty Upham, "Frozen River"
Debra Winger, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Supporting Male
James Franco, "Milk"
Anthony Mackie, "The Hurt Locker"
Charlie McDermott, "Frozen River"
JimMyron Ross, "Ballast"
Haaz Sleiman, "The Visitor"
Best Cinematography
Maryse Alberti, "The Wrestler"
Lol Crowley, "Ballast"
James Laxton, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Harris Savides, "Milk"
Michael Simmonds, "Chop Shop"
Best Documentary
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
"Encounters at the End of the World"
Director: Werner Herzog
"Man on Wire"
Director: James Marsh
"The Order of Myths"
Director: Margaret Brown
"Up the Yangtze"
Director: Yung Chang
Best Foreign Film
"The Class" (France)
Director: Laurent Cantet
"Gomorrah" (Italy)
Director: Matteo Garrone
"Hunger" (UK/Ireland)
Director: Steve McQueen
"Secret of the Grain" (France)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
"Silent Light" (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Robert Altman Award (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)
"Synecdoche, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams
Someone to Watch Award
Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Nina Paley, "Sita Sings the Blues"
Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brilliance"
Truer Than Fiction Award
Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"
Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil"
Darius Marder, "Loot"
Producers Award
Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy, "Treeless Mountain" and "I'll Come Running"
Jason Orans, "Goodbye Solo" and "Year of the Fish"
Heather Rae, "Frozen River" and "Ibid"...
- 12/2/2008
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
- I’m getting to this a little late today – I had morning and afternoon screenings for Milk and Doubt respectively, but for the most part I’m pleased by some of the names and film titles that were nominated in the fifteen categories and especially glad to see that Lance Hammer’s Ballast grabbed six nominations but I’m perplexed by one of the two films it shares a total of six nominations with. Perhaps I need to see Frozen River for a second time --- with the exception of Melissa Leo’s perf, I couldn’t help but feel that everything came across as manufactured, by the numbers and that it played out like a Hollywood movie rather than a poignant indie film with a punch. Below you’ll find the different categories, the nominations and some commentary on my part on who will win and who should win.
- 12/2/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
Austin expatriot and indiemaker Alex Holdridge's latest film, In Search Of A Midnight Kiss is a semi-autobiographical comic ride though love, sex, and modern romance in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. The feature is getting a lot of very strong attention from viewers and press from around the world, and we're excited to join with Afs in bringing it (and its director) here for a special screening at Alamo South Lamar!
Wilson (Scoot McNairy), a 29 year old guy who has just had the worst year of his life, is new to Los Angeles, has no date, no concrete plans and every intention of locking the doors and forgetting the last year ever happened. That is until his best friend, Jacob (Brian McGuire), browbeats him into posting a personal ad on Craig's List. Vivian (Sara Simmonds) answers the ad...
What follows is a one-night whirlwind romance that is both hilarious and heartbreaking.
Wilson (Scoot McNairy), a 29 year old guy who has just had the worst year of his life, is new to Los Angeles, has no date, no concrete plans and every intention of locking the doors and forgetting the last year ever happened. That is until his best friend, Jacob (Brian McGuire), browbeats him into posting a personal ad on Craig's List. Vivian (Sara Simmonds) answers the ad...
What follows is a one-night whirlwind romance that is both hilarious and heartbreaking.
- 8/22/2008
- by Zack Carlson
- OriginalAlamo.com
By Stephen Saito
It wasn't the most romantic situation when Alex Holdridge found himself standing by the side of the road, en route to a city he hated. At a time when Holdridge recalls having "no margin for error," there he was with his car flipped upside down and little recourse, except for a primal instinct. "As soon as I crashed the car, I found a camera and I knelt down and took that photo. I always knew that so long as that photo comes out, I could use it somewhere."
When a character in Holdridge's third film, "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," describes being involved in a car accident, there's something poetic about the small poof of smoke and the clutter of the car's undercarriage set against the open road, particularly illuminated by the film's monochromatic palette. Most of the amusing and poignant moments in "Midnight Kiss" came...
It wasn't the most romantic situation when Alex Holdridge found himself standing by the side of the road, en route to a city he hated. At a time when Holdridge recalls having "no margin for error," there he was with his car flipped upside down and little recourse, except for a primal instinct. "As soon as I crashed the car, I found a camera and I knelt down and took that photo. I always knew that so long as that photo comes out, I could use it somewhere."
When a character in Holdridge's third film, "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," describes being involved in a car accident, there's something poetic about the small poof of smoke and the clutter of the car's undercarriage set against the open road, particularly illuminated by the film's monochromatic palette. Most of the amusing and poignant moments in "Midnight Kiss" came...
- 8/5/2008
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
By Neil Pedley
This week's offerings find twilight twenty-somethings longing for love in Los Angeles, "The Mummy" franchise heading East and a gruesome subway slasher trying very hard not to scare people clean out of the theater, at least not before the movie actually starts.
"America the Beautiful"
At 12, Gerren Taylor was a bright young model who strolled the catwalk of Fashion Week in Los Angeles. By 13, she was considered a has-been. Director Darryl Roberts traces Taylor's early entrance and exit from the runway to paint a far larger picture of the inner workings of the fashion industry, examining the class system of models and the advertisers and designers who relentlessly manufacture a feeling of negative self-image among consumers and then prey upon it to get us to dip into our wallets. Through interviews with fashion industry experts, the first-time documentarian learns that beauty isn't skin deep . it's retouched, glossed over and as a business,...
This week's offerings find twilight twenty-somethings longing for love in Los Angeles, "The Mummy" franchise heading East and a gruesome subway slasher trying very hard not to scare people clean out of the theater, at least not before the movie actually starts.
"America the Beautiful"
At 12, Gerren Taylor was a bright young model who strolled the catwalk of Fashion Week in Los Angeles. By 13, she was considered a has-been. Director Darryl Roberts traces Taylor's early entrance and exit from the runway to paint a far larger picture of the inner workings of the fashion industry, examining the class system of models and the advertisers and designers who relentlessly manufacture a feeling of negative self-image among consumers and then prey upon it to get us to dip into our wallets. Through interviews with fashion industry experts, the first-time documentarian learns that beauty isn't skin deep . it's retouched, glossed over and as a business,...
- 8/4/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
'So what are you looking for?"
"The love of my life."
"On Craigslist?"
The tactics are new, but the goal is the same as ever in the indie romantic com edy "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," which takes a bit of "Swingers" and a bit of "Manhattan" to create a slacktacular vision of uncertain youth in today's L.A.
Wilson (Scoot McNairy) is troubled, lonely and confused - in other words, a comedy writer. He has $108 in the bank and no job, unless you count working the bong. As the movie opens, he is caught doing unspeakable, pantsless...
"The love of my life."
"On Craigslist?"
The tactics are new, but the goal is the same as ever in the indie romantic com edy "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," which takes a bit of "Swingers" and a bit of "Manhattan" to create a slacktacular vision of uncertain youth in today's L.A.
Wilson (Scoot McNairy) is troubled, lonely and confused - in other words, a comedy writer. He has $108 in the bank and no job, unless you count working the bong. As the movie opens, he is caught doing unspeakable, pantsless...
- 8/1/2008
- by By KYLE SMITH
- NYPost.com
There's an old saying in comedy: "Buy the premise, buy the bit." Alex Holdridge's In Search Of A Midnight Kiss asks the audience to buy a whole stack of premises, starting with the idea that a kiss on New Year's Eve is "all the hope of romance of the year culminating in just one moment." In a last-ditch attempt to get the year started right, mopey screenwriter Scoot McNairy posts a request for a date on Craigslist, and gets a call from sardonic actress Sara Simmonds, who tells him he has until sundown to impress her, or else she's going to find someone else to smooch. Contrived? Absolutely. But Holdridge must feel he needs the contrivance to juice up a routine indie walk-and-talk. In Search Of A Midnight Kiss shows enough flashes of brightness that its more conventional business is all the more dispiriting. When McNairy is caught masturbating.
- 7/31/2008
- by Noel Murray
- avclub.com
The best thing about Alex Holdridge's In Search of a Midnight Kiss (trailer above) is its conceptual audacity: not only is it a film about walking in L.A., but it devotes much of its screen time to romanticizing corners and aspects of the city well-known to natives but rarely seen on film (and never as the backdrop for meet-cute one-night-stand cinema). As long as it sticks to being a visually stunning love letter to the much-maligned city, ...
- 7/31/2008
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
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