Exclusive: Bankside Films has picked up international sales rights to Aisling Walsh’s Ethel, starring Shira Haas in the title role of pioneering conductor Ethel Stark who led the Montreal Women’s Symphony Orchestra.
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Sarah Paulson (12 Years A Slave) has joined the cast as Madge Bowen. Currently in pre-production, the film is a true story based on a screenplay by Celeste Parr.
Haas, who is about to make her West End stage debut with Opening Night, will play Stark, the first conductor of an all women’s symphony who helped lower gender, class and racial barriers to music.
The synopsis reads: “Ethel is a fierce talent; a musical prodigy determined to realise her talent and fulfil her dream. As with many trailblazers, she’s ahead of her time, and must break through the social boundaries of the 1940s – a world which doesn’t recognise her talent,...
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Sarah Paulson (12 Years A Slave) has joined the cast as Madge Bowen. Currently in pre-production, the film is a true story based on a screenplay by Celeste Parr.
Haas, who is about to make her West End stage debut with Opening Night, will play Stark, the first conductor of an all women’s symphony who helped lower gender, class and racial barriers to music.
The synopsis reads: “Ethel is a fierce talent; a musical prodigy determined to realise her talent and fulfil her dream. As with many trailblazers, she’s ahead of her time, and must break through the social boundaries of the 1940s – a world which doesn’t recognise her talent,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
“Maudie” director Aisling Walsh describes her upcoming feature, “Ethel,” in recognizable terms. “We all understand what it is to struggle to be the best at what we can,” Walsh tells Variety. “We’re all looking for that chance to make something happen.”
Written by Celeste Parr, produced by Marie-Claude Poulin (“Brooklyn”) of Sphere Media, and presented at this year’s Venice Production Bridge gap-financing market, “Ethel” tells the true story of Ethel Stark – a trailblazing Canadian musician who broke barriers when she founded a mixed-race, all-female orchestra in the 1940s. A violinist and conductor, Stark eventually brought her Montreal-based ensemble all the way to Carnegie Hall, becoming the first to woman to conduct there.
“Shtisel” and “Unorthodox” lead Shira Haas is attached to star – as revealed exclusively in Variety – with the Canadian-Irish co-production aiming to shoot next year.
“The film is about women finding their voice,” says Walsh. “The orchestra changed their lives.
Written by Celeste Parr, produced by Marie-Claude Poulin (“Brooklyn”) of Sphere Media, and presented at this year’s Venice Production Bridge gap-financing market, “Ethel” tells the true story of Ethel Stark – a trailblazing Canadian musician who broke barriers when she founded a mixed-race, all-female orchestra in the 1940s. A violinist and conductor, Stark eventually brought her Montreal-based ensemble all the way to Carnegie Hall, becoming the first to woman to conduct there.
“Shtisel” and “Unorthodox” lead Shira Haas is attached to star – as revealed exclusively in Variety – with the Canadian-Irish co-production aiming to shoot next year.
“The film is about women finding their voice,” says Walsh. “The orchestra changed their lives.
- 9/9/2023
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Shira Haas, the star of “Unorthodox” and “Shtisel,” is set to headline “Ethel,” a period musical drama about the true story of Ethel Stark, the groundbreaking conductor who founded the first all-female orchestra in Montreal.
Besides breaking barriers in the music world, Stark has also been credited for championing social change across gender, race, language and class starting in the 1940’s.
Aisling Walsh, the Irish-born helmer of “Maudie” and BAFTA-winning “Elizabeth Is Missing” will direct the film, based on an original screenplay by Celeste Parr (“Gurov and Anna”).
The female-powered project is part of growing slate of Sphere Films, the Montreal-based banner (formerly known as MK2/Mile End) which is now presided over by Charles Tremblay. Marie-Claude Poulin (“Brooklyn”) will be producing “Ethel” for Sphere Media. It will be distributed in Canada by Sphere Films.
Sphere Films will also be distributing “Out Standing,” based on the memoir of Sandra Perron,...
Besides breaking barriers in the music world, Stark has also been credited for championing social change across gender, race, language and class starting in the 1940’s.
Aisling Walsh, the Irish-born helmer of “Maudie” and BAFTA-winning “Elizabeth Is Missing” will direct the film, based on an original screenplay by Celeste Parr (“Gurov and Anna”).
The female-powered project is part of growing slate of Sphere Films, the Montreal-based banner (formerly known as MK2/Mile End) which is now presided over by Charles Tremblay. Marie-Claude Poulin (“Brooklyn”) will be producing “Ethel” for Sphere Media. It will be distributed in Canada by Sphere Films.
Sphere Films will also be distributing “Out Standing,” based on the memoir of Sandra Perron,...
- 5/24/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Rotterdam Winners
This year’s virtual International Film Festival Rotterdam has crowned the winners from its film program. Southern India-set Pebbles by Vinothraj P.S won the Tiger Award, while I Comete – A Corsican Summer by French filmmaker Pascal Tagnati and Looking for Venera by Norika Sefa from Kosovo both won Special Jury Awards. The Vpro Big Screen Award went to El perro que no calla by Ana Katz from Argentina and Quo Vadis, Aida? by Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Žbanić won the BankGiro Loterij Audience Award. The festival named its industry winners last week. “In these most challenging of times, we are incredibly proud to have brought an outstanding selection of titles in our reimagined festival format,” said festival director Vanja Kaludjercic.
Goteborg Fest Awards
Tigers, directed by Ronnie Sandahl, won the 2021 Dragon Award Best Nordic Film as this year’s Goteborg Film Festival came to a close over the weekend.
This year’s virtual International Film Festival Rotterdam has crowned the winners from its film program. Southern India-set Pebbles by Vinothraj P.S won the Tiger Award, while I Comete – A Corsican Summer by French filmmaker Pascal Tagnati and Looking for Venera by Norika Sefa from Kosovo both won Special Jury Awards. The Vpro Big Screen Award went to El perro que no calla by Ana Katz from Argentina and Quo Vadis, Aida? by Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Žbanić won the BankGiro Loterij Audience Award. The festival named its industry winners last week. “In these most challenging of times, we are incredibly proud to have brought an outstanding selection of titles in our reimagined festival format,” said festival director Vanja Kaludjercic.
Goteborg Fest Awards
Tigers, directed by Ronnie Sandahl, won the 2021 Dragon Award Best Nordic Film as this year’s Goteborg Film Festival came to a close over the weekend.
- 2/8/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Catherine Walker, newcomer Jessica Reynolds star in story of mother-daughter suspected of witchcraft.
Epic Pictures and Canadian producer Gianna Isabella of Gate 67 Films have completed principal photography on The Ballad Of Audrey Earnshaw, which Epic will launch to international buyers in Cannes next month.
Catherine Walker (A Dark Song), Sean McGinley (Braveheart), Jared Abrahamson (American Animals), Hannah Emily Anderson (Jigsaw), and newcomer Jessica Reynolds star in the tale of a young woman and her domineeting mother who live as pagans on the fringes of a Protestant settlement.
Hysteria and the increasing threat of violence mounts within the community when a...
Epic Pictures and Canadian producer Gianna Isabella of Gate 67 Films have completed principal photography on The Ballad Of Audrey Earnshaw, which Epic will launch to international buyers in Cannes next month.
Catherine Walker (A Dark Song), Sean McGinley (Braveheart), Jared Abrahamson (American Animals), Hannah Emily Anderson (Jigsaw), and newcomer Jessica Reynolds star in the tale of a young woman and her domineeting mother who live as pagans on the fringes of a Protestant settlement.
Hysteria and the increasing threat of violence mounts within the community when a...
- 4/26/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Corey Marr, Marie-Claude Poulin, Martina Niland produce comedy-drama inspired by work of Leonard Cohen.
Brian Gleeson has boarded Corey Marr Productions’ Death Of A Ladies’ Man, which Celluloid Dreams is introducing to worldwide buyers in Cannes next week.
Matthew Bissonnette will direct and the producers have earmarked an autumn start in Montreal and the West Coast of Ireland.
Gleeson joins Antoine Olivier Pilon and Gabriel Byrne on the comedy drama inspired by the work of Leonard Cohen and featuring many of his most popular songs.
Byrne will play Samuel O’Shea, a university poetry professor whose life of exuberant womanising,...
Brian Gleeson has boarded Corey Marr Productions’ Death Of A Ladies’ Man, which Celluloid Dreams is introducing to worldwide buyers in Cannes next week.
Matthew Bissonnette will direct and the producers have earmarked an autumn start in Montreal and the West Coast of Ireland.
Gleeson joins Antoine Olivier Pilon and Gabriel Byrne on the comedy drama inspired by the work of Leonard Cohen and featuring many of his most popular songs.
Byrne will play Samuel O’Shea, a university poetry professor whose life of exuberant womanising,...
- 4/30/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Second year of the event will see 16 titles presented at the Marché du Film.
A total of 16 projects have been selected to take part in the Frontières Platform at this year’s Cannes Marché du Film, with the second edition of the genre event set to run from May 12-13.
The Frontières Proof Of Concept Presentation on May 12 will include 10 projects in advanced financing stages, presenting completed teaser trailers to prospective partners. Among the 10 are Whitaker directed by Casey Walker, with the Rook Films team of Andy Starke, Pete Tombs and Ben Wheatley producing. It was previously one of the...
A total of 16 projects have been selected to take part in the Frontières Platform at this year’s Cannes Marché du Film, with the second edition of the genre event set to run from May 12-13.
The Frontières Proof Of Concept Presentation on May 12 will include 10 projects in advanced financing stages, presenting completed teaser trailers to prospective partners. Among the 10 are Whitaker directed by Casey Walker, with the Rook Films team of Andy Starke, Pete Tombs and Ben Wheatley producing. It was previously one of the...
- 4/17/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Title taken from 1977 album by Leonard Cohen, who gave blessing to the project before his death.
Celluloid Dreams has acquired world sales rights on Matt Bissonnette’s Death Of A Ladies’ Man starring Irish actor Gabriel Byrne as a hard-drinking, womanising, university poetry professor who unexpectedly finds love when he retreats to a shack in Ireland after discovering he has a brain tumour.
Bissonnette, whose credits include the 2009 comedy drama Passenger Side, will direct from his own script. Other cast members include Quebecois actor Antoine-Olivier Pilon, best-known for his award-winning performance in Mommy.
The film is a Canadian-Irish co-production produced by Bissonnette’s long-time collaborator Corey Marr, respected Canadian producer Marie-Claude Poulin and Ireland’s Martina Niland.
Byrne’s character Samuel O’Shea has seen better days as the film opens. His second marriage is ending and he has started seeing strange things such Frankenstein sidling up to him in a bar, or his much-missed...
Celluloid Dreams has acquired world sales rights on Matt Bissonnette’s Death Of A Ladies’ Man starring Irish actor Gabriel Byrne as a hard-drinking, womanising, university poetry professor who unexpectedly finds love when he retreats to a shack in Ireland after discovering he has a brain tumour.
Bissonnette, whose credits include the 2009 comedy drama Passenger Side, will direct from his own script. Other cast members include Quebecois actor Antoine-Olivier Pilon, best-known for his award-winning performance in Mommy.
The film is a Canadian-Irish co-production produced by Bissonnette’s long-time collaborator Corey Marr, respected Canadian producer Marie-Claude Poulin and Ireland’s Martina Niland.
Byrne’s character Samuel O’Shea has seen better days as the film opens. His second marriage is ending and he has started seeing strange things such Frankenstein sidling up to him in a bar, or his much-missed...
- 2/15/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Title taken from 1977 album by Leonard Cohen, who gave blessing to the project before his death.
Celluloid Dreams has acquired world sales rights on Matt Bissonnette’s Death Of A Ladies’ Man starring Irish actor Gabriel Byrne as a hard-drinking, womanising, university poetry professor who unexpectedly finds love when he retreats to a shack in Ireland after discovering he has a brain tumour.
Bissonnette, whose credits include the 2009 comedy drama Passenger Side, will direct from his own script. Other cast members include Quebecois actor Antoine-Olivier Pilon, best-known for his award-winning performance in Mommy.
The film is a Canadian-Irish co-production produced by Bissonnette’s long-time collaborator Corey Marr, respected Canadian producer Marie-Claude Poulin and Ireland’s Martina Niland.
Byrne’s character Samuel O’Shea has seen better days as the film opens. His second marriage is ending and he has started seeing strange things such Frankenstein sidling up to him in a bar, or his much-missed...
Celluloid Dreams has acquired world sales rights on Matt Bissonnette’s Death Of A Ladies’ Man starring Irish actor Gabriel Byrne as a hard-drinking, womanising, university poetry professor who unexpectedly finds love when he retreats to a shack in Ireland after discovering he has a brain tumour.
Bissonnette, whose credits include the 2009 comedy drama Passenger Side, will direct from his own script. Other cast members include Quebecois actor Antoine-Olivier Pilon, best-known for his award-winning performance in Mommy.
The film is a Canadian-Irish co-production produced by Bissonnette’s long-time collaborator Corey Marr, respected Canadian producer Marie-Claude Poulin and Ireland’s Martina Niland.
Byrne’s character Samuel O’Shea has seen better days as the film opens. His second marriage is ending and he has started seeing strange things such Frankenstein sidling up to him in a bar, or his much-missed...
- 2/15/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
13 projects will participate in the second annual Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum.
Source: Cannes Film Festival
The Transfiguration
A total of 13 projects will participate in the second annual Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum, set to take place February 22-24 in Amsterdam. This is an expansion on last year’s total of 12 projects.
Having been initiated as part of the partnership between Fantasia International Film Festival and the Cannes Marche du Film, the forum will see industry experts assessing genre film projects from a packaging perspective, analysing finance, marketing and distribution strategies.
Among the selected features are works from directors Michael O’Shea (The Transfiguration), Neasa Hardiman (Happy Valley) and Can Evrenol (Baskin), producer Andy Starke and exec producer Ben Wheatley (Free Fire).
Julie Bergeron, Head of Industry Programs, Marché du Film, said: “After 5 years of continual development, growth, and innovation, Frontières has become the generally acknowledged leader in the genre film industry as a market and networking facilitator, and effectively...
Source: Cannes Film Festival
The Transfiguration
A total of 13 projects will participate in the second annual Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum, set to take place February 22-24 in Amsterdam. This is an expansion on last year’s total of 12 projects.
Having been initiated as part of the partnership between Fantasia International Film Festival and the Cannes Marche du Film, the forum will see industry experts assessing genre film projects from a packaging perspective, analysing finance, marketing and distribution strategies.
Among the selected features are works from directors Michael O’Shea (The Transfiguration), Neasa Hardiman (Happy Valley) and Can Evrenol (Baskin), producer Andy Starke and exec producer Ben Wheatley (Free Fire).
Julie Bergeron, Head of Industry Programs, Marché du Film, said: “After 5 years of continual development, growth, and innovation, Frontières has become the generally acknowledged leader in the genre film industry as a market and networking facilitator, and effectively...
- 1/18/2018
- by Jasper Hart
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Patti Cake$ breakout star Macdonald on board Seville International Cannes sales title.
Seville International will launch pre-sales in Cannes on prestige drama Skin, a true story about the redemption of a Neo-Nazi that pairs Jamie Bell with Danielle Macdonald from Sundance breakout and Directors’ Fortnight entry Patti Cake$.
Guy Nattiv will direct the true story based on the life of Bryon ‘Pitbull’ Widner, a violent gang enforcer who is decorated in facial tattoos for committing hate crimes.
Skin will recount how Widner falls in love with a mother of three daughters outside the gang and turns his back on the gang, resulting in the arrest of its leaders.
As he embarks on his new life, the former gang member receives a $70,000 gift from a Holocaust survivor to pay for painful surgery to remove his facial tattoos.
Skin marks the fourth feature from Nattiv, whose The Flood (Mabul) won the Generation Kplus – Best Feature Film at the...
Seville International will launch pre-sales in Cannes on prestige drama Skin, a true story about the redemption of a Neo-Nazi that pairs Jamie Bell with Danielle Macdonald from Sundance breakout and Directors’ Fortnight entry Patti Cake$.
Guy Nattiv will direct the true story based on the life of Bryon ‘Pitbull’ Widner, a violent gang enforcer who is decorated in facial tattoos for committing hate crimes.
Skin will recount how Widner falls in love with a mother of three daughters outside the gang and turns his back on the gang, resulting in the arrest of its leaders.
As he embarks on his new life, the former gang member receives a $70,000 gift from a Holocaust survivor to pay for painful surgery to remove his facial tattoos.
Skin marks the fourth feature from Nattiv, whose The Flood (Mabul) won the Generation Kplus – Best Feature Film at the...
- 5/10/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Patti Cake$ breakout star Macdonald on board Seville International Cannes sales title.
Seville International will launch pre-sales in Cannes on prestige drama Skin, a true story about the redemption of a Neo-Nazi that pairs Jamie Bell with Danielle Macdonald from Sundance breakout and Directors’ Fortnight entry Patti Cake$.
Guy Nattiv will direct the true story based on the life of Bryon ‘Pitbull’ Widner, a violent gang enforcer who is decorated in facial tattoos for committing hate crimes.
Skin will recount how Widner falls in love with a mother of three daughters outside the gang and turns his back on the gang, resulting in the arrest of its leaders.
As he embarks on his new life, the former gang member receives a $70,000 gift from a Holocaust survivor to pay for painful surgery to remove his facial tattoos.
Skin marks the fourth feature from Nattiv, whose The Flood (Mabul) won the Generation Kplus – Best Feature Film at the...
Seville International will launch pre-sales in Cannes on prestige drama Skin, a true story about the redemption of a Neo-Nazi that pairs Jamie Bell with Danielle Macdonald from Sundance breakout and Directors’ Fortnight entry Patti Cake$.
Guy Nattiv will direct the true story based on the life of Bryon ‘Pitbull’ Widner, a violent gang enforcer who is decorated in facial tattoos for committing hate crimes.
Skin will recount how Widner falls in love with a mother of three daughters outside the gang and turns his back on the gang, resulting in the arrest of its leaders.
As he embarks on his new life, the former gang member receives a $70,000 gift from a Holocaust survivor to pay for painful surgery to remove his facial tattoos.
Skin marks the fourth feature from Nattiv, whose The Flood (Mabul) won the Generation Kplus – Best Feature Film at the...
- 5/10/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Patti Cake$ breakout Danielle Macdonald on board Seville International Cannes sales title.
Seville International will launch pre-sales in Cannes on prestige drama Skin, a true story about the redemption of a Neo-Nazi that pairs Jamie Bell with Danielle Macdonald from Sundance breakout and Directors’ Fortnight entry Patti Cake$.
Guy Nattiv will direct the true story based on the life of Bryon ‘Pitbull’ Widner, a violent gang enforcer who is decorated in facial tattoos for committing hate crimes.
Skin will recount how Widner falls in love with a mother of three daughters outside the gang and turns his back on the gang, resulting in the arrest of its leaders.
As he embarks on his new life, the former gang member receives a $70,000 gift from a Holocaust survivor to pay for painful surgery to remove his facial tattoos.
Skin marks the fourth feature from Nattiv, whose The Flood (Mabul) won the Generation Kplus – Best Feature Film at the...
Seville International will launch pre-sales in Cannes on prestige drama Skin, a true story about the redemption of a Neo-Nazi that pairs Jamie Bell with Danielle Macdonald from Sundance breakout and Directors’ Fortnight entry Patti Cake$.
Guy Nattiv will direct the true story based on the life of Bryon ‘Pitbull’ Widner, a violent gang enforcer who is decorated in facial tattoos for committing hate crimes.
Skin will recount how Widner falls in love with a mother of three daughters outside the gang and turns his back on the gang, resulting in the arrest of its leaders.
As he embarks on his new life, the former gang member receives a $70,000 gift from a Holocaust survivor to pay for painful surgery to remove his facial tattoos.
Skin marks the fourth feature from Nattiv, whose The Flood (Mabul) won the Generation Kplus – Best Feature Film at the...
- 5/10/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
While Canadians are days away from hitting the polls to determine the next government, Chloé Robichaud, the filmmaker who broke out with her Cannes Un Certain Regard selected Sarah Prefers to Run is trading the athletic podium for….the political one. Among the new generation of French Canadian female filmmakers, her sophomore effort entitled Pays has its cast in place and is ready to roll. First-timer Nathalie Doummar is joined by Macha Grenon, Yves Jacques, Rémy Girard and Alexandre Landry (Louise Archambault’s Gabrielle) are among those to join the project. To be readied for 2016, the pic is produced by La Boîte à Fanny’s Fanny-Laure Malo (Sarah préfère la course), Item 7’s Pierre Even et Marie-Claude Poulin (Brooklyn) and Morag Loves Company’s Barbara Doran (The Grand Seduction).
Gist: Not imagining herself as a candidate in the federal election, 25 year-old Félixe (Nathalie Doummar) has more difficulty coming to terms after winning her riding.
Gist: Not imagining herself as a candidate in the federal election, 25 year-old Félixe (Nathalie Doummar) has more difficulty coming to terms after winning her riding.
- 10/7/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Here is the group shot with all the participants of this year's Producers Lab Toronto.
Top row (left to right): Arnie Zipursky (Canada), Kaleena Kiff (Canada), Chantelle Kadyschuk (Canada),Leanne Saunders (New Zealand), Rebecca Summerton (Australia), Raquelle David (Australia),Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Ireland), Marie-Claude Poulin (Canada), Simone Urdl (Canada),Floor Onrust (The Netherlands), Julia Rosenberg (Canada), Hanan Kattan (United Kingdom), Eva Jakobsen (Denmark), Barbara Willis Sweete (Canada), Bob Crowe (Canada).
Bottom row (left to right): Peter Rommel (Germany), Alex Behse (New Zealand), Hlin Johannesdottir (Iceland), Silvia Panakova (Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Spain), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (Canada), Jane Loughman (Canada), Adis Djapo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Not pictured Ivo Felt (Estonia).
Intense networking and pitching events among producers from Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Australia took place at the Toronto International Film Festival. The sixth edition of this initiative, which ran September 9 to 12, was created for 24 hand-picked participants to exchange project ideas and funding information for trans-atlantic co-production deals.
The international co-production forum was organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with the Ontario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) supported the event once again, along withCreative Europe – Media Program, the participating Efp member organizations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Here is a list of the participants:
European participants
Canadian participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt, Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
Australian participants
New Zealand’s participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films
Detailed information about the 24 participants of Producers Lab Toronto 2015 can be found...
Top row (left to right): Arnie Zipursky (Canada), Kaleena Kiff (Canada), Chantelle Kadyschuk (Canada),Leanne Saunders (New Zealand), Rebecca Summerton (Australia), Raquelle David (Australia),Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Ireland), Marie-Claude Poulin (Canada), Simone Urdl (Canada),Floor Onrust (The Netherlands), Julia Rosenberg (Canada), Hanan Kattan (United Kingdom), Eva Jakobsen (Denmark), Barbara Willis Sweete (Canada), Bob Crowe (Canada).
Bottom row (left to right): Peter Rommel (Germany), Alex Behse (New Zealand), Hlin Johannesdottir (Iceland), Silvia Panakova (Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Spain), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (Canada), Jane Loughman (Canada), Adis Djapo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Not pictured Ivo Felt (Estonia).
Intense networking and pitching events among producers from Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Australia took place at the Toronto International Film Festival. The sixth edition of this initiative, which ran September 9 to 12, was created for 24 hand-picked participants to exchange project ideas and funding information for trans-atlantic co-production deals.
The international co-production forum was organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with the Ontario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) supported the event once again, along withCreative Europe – Media Program, the participating Efp member organizations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Here is a list of the participants:
European participants
Canadian participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt, Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
Australian participants
New Zealand’s participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films
Detailed information about the 24 participants of Producers Lab Toronto 2015 can be found...
- 9/14/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The sixth edition of Producers Lab Toronto is set to launch during the Toronto International Film Festival from September 9 to 12, 2015. Twenty four producers from Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have been chosen to exchange project ideas, funding information, and co-production deals. This successful networking platform has facilitated the development of several trans-Atlantic co-productions, with 17 former participants now working on 17 projects at various stages of production.
Producers Lab Toronto 2015 will see the 24 participants taking part in various networking and pitching events, case studies, and round tables with key industry members. The event will enable the participants to broaden their scope of projects regarding financing, creativity, and distribution in order to create trans-Atlantic co-productions.
The international co-production forum is organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with theOntario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) will again be supporting the event, along with Creative Europe – Media Programme, the participating Efp member organisations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Selected by the event's five partners, the participating producers have significant experience of co-production and will be presenting new projects with international market potential. Adis Dapo, known for Aida Begic’s "Children of Sarajevo" (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Germany/ France/ Turkey 2012), is from Efp’s youngest member country Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is one of the ten European internationally-experienced producers coming to take part in the event.
Canadian producer participants include Simone Urdl, known for her long association with Atom Egoyan ("The Captive," Cannes 2014), and Chantelle Kadyschuk of No Trace Camping, Canadian producer of "Room," a Canada-Ireland co-production premiering at Tiff 2015.
European participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt , Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Australian participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Canadian participants
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
New Zealand's participants
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films...
Producers Lab Toronto 2015 will see the 24 participants taking part in various networking and pitching events, case studies, and round tables with key industry members. The event will enable the participants to broaden their scope of projects regarding financing, creativity, and distribution in order to create trans-Atlantic co-productions.
The international co-production forum is organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with theOntario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) will again be supporting the event, along with Creative Europe – Media Programme, the participating Efp member organisations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Selected by the event's five partners, the participating producers have significant experience of co-production and will be presenting new projects with international market potential. Adis Dapo, known for Aida Begic’s "Children of Sarajevo" (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Germany/ France/ Turkey 2012), is from Efp’s youngest member country Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is one of the ten European internationally-experienced producers coming to take part in the event.
Canadian producer participants include Simone Urdl, known for her long association with Atom Egoyan ("The Captive," Cannes 2014), and Chantelle Kadyschuk of No Trace Camping, Canadian producer of "Room," a Canada-Ireland co-production premiering at Tiff 2015.
European participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt , Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Australian participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Canadian participants
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
New Zealand's participants
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films...
- 9/1/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Twenty-four producers from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been selected for the programme.
Toronto International Film Festival sources said the networking initiative has led to 17 former participants working on projects at various stages of production.
Participants will take part in networking and pitching events, case studies and roundtables with key industry members.
The participants are:
Canada: Bob Crowe (Angel Entertainment Corp), Chantelle Kadyschuk (No Trace Camping), Kaleena Kiff (Radius Squared Media Group), Jane Loughman (Monkeys & Parrots), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (First Love Films), Marie-Claude Poulin (Item 7), Julia Rosenberg (January Films), Simone Urdl (The Film Farm), Barbara Willis Sweete (Willis Sweete Productions) and Arnie Zipursky (Cci Entertainment).
Europe: Adis Djapo (Scca, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ivo Felt (Allfilm, Estonia), Eva Johannesdóttir (Snowglobe, Denmark), Hanan Kattan (Enlightenment Productions, UK), Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Wide Eye Films, Ireland), Floor Onrust (Family Affair Films, The Netherlands), Silvia Panáková (Arina, Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Ikiru Films, Spain), [link...
Toronto International Film Festival sources said the networking initiative has led to 17 former participants working on projects at various stages of production.
Participants will take part in networking and pitching events, case studies and roundtables with key industry members.
The participants are:
Canada: Bob Crowe (Angel Entertainment Corp), Chantelle Kadyschuk (No Trace Camping), Kaleena Kiff (Radius Squared Media Group), Jane Loughman (Monkeys & Parrots), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (First Love Films), Marie-Claude Poulin (Item 7), Julia Rosenberg (January Films), Simone Urdl (The Film Farm), Barbara Willis Sweete (Willis Sweete Productions) and Arnie Zipursky (Cci Entertainment).
Europe: Adis Djapo (Scca, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ivo Felt (Allfilm, Estonia), Eva Johannesdóttir (Snowglobe, Denmark), Hanan Kattan (Enlightenment Productions, UK), Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Wide Eye Films, Ireland), Floor Onrust (Family Affair Films, The Netherlands), Silvia Panáková (Arina, Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Ikiru Films, Spain), [link...
- 8/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Freestyle has acquired Us theatrical and digital rights from Myriad Pictures to the rom-com, which Myriad will be selling at the Afm.
Three Night Stand stars Emmanuelle Chriqui, Sam Huntington and Meaghan Rath in the story of a married couple who go to a ski lodge run by the man’s ex-girlfriend.
Pat Kiely wrote and directed Three Night Stand and also produced alongside Rob Vroom. Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even of Item 7 are executive producers with Emily Alden of Pacific Northwest Pictures, Rath and Brian Vroom.
The film was produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada, Sodec, The Movie Network, Movie Central, the Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
Freestyle will release the film theatrically in the Us on January 16, 2015.
The film premiered at the 2013 Whistler Film Festival and received its world premiere at Slamdance earlier this year.
Pacific Northwest Pictures handles distribution of all rights...
Three Night Stand stars Emmanuelle Chriqui, Sam Huntington and Meaghan Rath in the story of a married couple who go to a ski lodge run by the man’s ex-girlfriend.
Pat Kiely wrote and directed Three Night Stand and also produced alongside Rob Vroom. Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even of Item 7 are executive producers with Emily Alden of Pacific Northwest Pictures, Rath and Brian Vroom.
The film was produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada, Sodec, The Movie Network, Movie Central, the Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
Freestyle will release the film theatrically in the Us on January 16, 2015.
The film premiered at the 2013 Whistler Film Festival and received its world premiere at Slamdance earlier this year.
Pacific Northwest Pictures handles distribution of all rights...
- 10/27/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Montreal-based Item 7 has secured a world premiere for its latest film Meetings With A Young Poet and brought on Paris-based Films Distribution to handle sales.
Meetings With A Young Poet will premiere at the International Film Festival Of India that runs until November 30 in Goa.
Rudy Barichello directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Marcel Beaulieu.
Stephen McHattie (pictured, right) stars alongside Maria de Medeiros and Vincent Hoss-Desmarais (pictured, left) in the story of a young poet who forges a deep friendship with Samuel Beckett only to discover more about his mentor after the celebrated writer’s death.
Item 7’s Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin produced the film. Their credits include last year’s Canadian foreign language Oscar submission War Witch and Café de Flore.
Tva Films will distribute Meetings With A Young Poet in Canada in 2014.
The film is produced with financial contributions by Sodec, Telefilm Canada, Quebec film and television tax credit, [link...
Meetings With A Young Poet will premiere at the International Film Festival Of India that runs until November 30 in Goa.
Rudy Barichello directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Marcel Beaulieu.
Stephen McHattie (pictured, right) stars alongside Maria de Medeiros and Vincent Hoss-Desmarais (pictured, left) in the story of a young poet who forges a deep friendship with Samuel Beckett only to discover more about his mentor after the celebrated writer’s death.
Item 7’s Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin produced the film. Their credits include last year’s Canadian foreign language Oscar submission War Witch and Café de Flore.
Tva Films will distribute Meetings With A Young Poet in Canada in 2014.
The film is produced with financial contributions by Sodec, Telefilm Canada, Quebec film and television tax credit, [link...
- 11/22/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Montreal-based Item 7 has secured a world premiere for its latest film Meetings With A Young Poet and bought on Paris-based Films Distribution to handle sales.
Meetings With A Young Poet will premiere at the International Film Festival Of India that runs until November 30 in Goa.
Rudy Barichello directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Marcel Beaulieu.
Stephen McHattie (pictured, right) stars alongside Maria de Medeiros and Vincent Hoss-Desmarais (pictured, left) in the story of a young poet who forges a deep friendship with Samuel Beckett only to discover more about his mentor after the celebrated writer’s death.
Item 7’s Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin produced the film. Their credits include last year’s Canadian foreign language Oscar submission War Witch and Café de Flore.
Tva Films will distribute Meetings With A Young Poet in Canada in 2014.
The film is produced with financial contributions by Sodec, Telefilm Canada, Quebec film and television tax credit, [link...
Meetings With A Young Poet will premiere at the International Film Festival Of India that runs until November 30 in Goa.
Rudy Barichello directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Marcel Beaulieu.
Stephen McHattie (pictured, right) stars alongside Maria de Medeiros and Vincent Hoss-Desmarais (pictured, left) in the story of a young poet who forges a deep friendship with Samuel Beckett only to discover more about his mentor after the celebrated writer’s death.
Item 7’s Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin produced the film. Their credits include last year’s Canadian foreign language Oscar submission War Witch and Café de Flore.
Tva Films will distribute Meetings With A Young Poet in Canada in 2014.
The film is produced with financial contributions by Sodec, Telefilm Canada, Quebec film and television tax credit, [link...
- 11/22/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
We’re back with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes news on the latest episode of Ghost Trek, an announcement for William Pattison’s new novel, Psychotic State, DVD release details for The Colony, a clip from Hitchhiker Massacre, and much more:
Details on Psychotic State: “The plot of Psychotic State tells the story of David Coleman, a bipolar twenty-six year old man who is one of those people that the world likes to pick on. David is bullied and abused by everyone around him, including his adopted father. When David gets fired from his job after a run in with a couple bullies he loses his medical and stops taking his medication. This causes David to go into a psychotic state and in a twisted idea of justice he decides that it is time for him...
Details on Psychotic State: “The plot of Psychotic State tells the story of David Coleman, a bipolar twenty-six year old man who is one of those people that the world likes to pick on. David is bullied and abused by everyone around him, including his adopted father. When David gets fired from his job after a run in with a couple bullies he loses his medical and stops taking his medication. This causes David to go into a psychotic state and in a twisted idea of justice he decides that it is time for him...
- 10/13/2013
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Exclusive: Montreal–based producers Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin are back in business with Kim Nguyen after their collaboration on this year’s Canadian Oscar nominee War Witch.
The Item 7 principals are putting together Origin Of The World as an international co-production and are out to casting with an eye on a first quarter 2014 start.
French-Canadian Nguyen will direct from his screenplay, which is conceived as a triptych and centres on the plight of women in India, the Middle East and North America.
Congo-set War Witch (Rebelle) earned a best foreign language Oscar nomination earlier this year and won 10 Canadian Genie awards including best film, director and screenplay as well as actress for Rachel Mwanza.
Films Distribution handled international sales and Mongrel Media distributed in Canada.
The Item 7 principals are putting together Origin Of The World as an international co-production and are out to casting with an eye on a first quarter 2014 start.
French-Canadian Nguyen will direct from his screenplay, which is conceived as a triptych and centres on the plight of women in India, the Middle East and North America.
Congo-set War Witch (Rebelle) earned a best foreign language Oscar nomination earlier this year and won 10 Canadian Genie awards including best film, director and screenplay as well as actress for Rachel Mwanza.
Films Distribution handled international sales and Mongrel Media distributed in Canada.
- 9/3/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
We return with the latest edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes a trailer for The Banshee Chapter, a new episode of Chronicles of the Dead, details on The Crying Dead, and much more:
Heir First Details: “From Richard Powell and Zach Green’s Fatal Pictures, the company that brought you the critically acclaimed, award winning horror shorts Worm and Familiar, comes their new and final short film “Heir”, a touching tale of father and son. Starring the Emmy award winning Bill Oberst Jr. (Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies) and Robert Nolan (Sick, Worm, Familiar).
After connecting with a stranger of similar interests online, family man Gordon and his son Paul, embark on an ill-fated road trip in which Gordon aims to indulge in a secret passion. Before the day ends a horrible truth will be uncovered and a harsh lesson will be learned.
Heir First Details: “From Richard Powell and Zach Green’s Fatal Pictures, the company that brought you the critically acclaimed, award winning horror shorts Worm and Familiar, comes their new and final short film “Heir”, a touching tale of father and son. Starring the Emmy award winning Bill Oberst Jr. (Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies) and Robert Nolan (Sick, Worm, Familiar).
After connecting with a stranger of similar interests online, family man Gordon and his son Paul, embark on an ill-fated road trip in which Gordon aims to indulge in a secret passion. Before the day ends a horrible truth will be uncovered and a harsh lesson will be learned.
- 7/28/2013
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
This Berlin flew by! A good overview is that of Screen Daily and if we're lucky, you can read it here without subscribing. My own activities flowed from two sources:
1) Education: I taught and led tours of the market for Berlinale's Talent Campus Meet the Experts, for Deutsche Welle Akademie Film Festival Workshop, and for Ina Sup, a TV, film and new media school based in France and linked to the French National Audiovisual Institute (Ina). This is the most rewarding work, seeing what talent is coming up in our world, seeing ideas take hold as the students learn about the market.
2) Our Consulting: Another pillar of our company, aside from blogging and professional education, is strategic planning with filmmakers. This Berlinale was very intense and very energizing for my partner Peter Belsito and me, with Beyond the Moonwalk having found a berth for international sales representation with Steve Arroyave's Arrow Entertainment and a U.S. distribution commitment, and more actively involving, with Donna Deitch's The Catcher, where a series of meetings with top German and Canadian producers and sales agents gave the project the momentum of a race horse bound for first place!
What follows are my impressions of various other Berlin events as they passed by -- ever so quickly -- but still with enough eye-catching power to capture my attention in the first place.
I was happy to see Jeff Lipsky and Adopt Films' co-managing executive Tim Grady cleaning up with 3 acquisitions; no time to waste anymore as the third Bingham Ray memorial pointed out to those who have the mind to realize the message. Sister (L'enfant d'en haut) by Ursula Maier (Isa: Memento, Swiss rights with FilmCoopi), I hear is A+, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Caesar Must Die (Cesare deve morire) (Isa: Rai Trade) won the Golden Bear, and Chris Petzold's Barbara, all in Competition.
American indie works-in-progress have been granted a second chance to screen for European indie distributors (EuropaDistribution) at the upcoming Paris Film Festival in June. I have been invited to be on the jury of "U.S. in Progress" and am thrilled at the prospect. I was honored to have been invited to be on the jury in Wroclaw at the American Film Festival in November as well, for the first edition of this chance for U.S. filmmakers to win post-production and cash prizes. This is where the film Now, Forager was picked up by fledgling international sales agent, the only international sales agent in Poland, New Europe Sales founded by Jan Naszewski [jnaszewski At gmail.com] and Anja Sosic [anja At NewEuropeFilmSales.com]. The film went on to screen at Rotterdam Film Festival. Even hotter news will be forthcoming from Moma and The New York Film Society's New Directors/ New Films about one of the films at the Aff's "U.S. in Progress". If you missed it in Poland you will be able to see it in New York this April!
I was lucky to see two films during the market and after the market closed, this last Saturday and Sunday, when I caught some more films I was unable to see earlier due to my "real" work. Of the films I saw here in Berlin, here are my unique :) comments for what they're worth.
Children of Srikandi (Panorama) is a very personal account by a female filmmaker collective in Indonesia on what it means to be a lesbian in their society. The sweet intimacy of the film overrides its non-professional veneer (the "filmmakers" were all non-professionals). In fact, this could serve as a template for other non-professionals who want to tell their stories. Schools come to mind as possible candidates for this sort of filmmaking, as does my own pet project, The Literacy Project. The Indonesian contingent here in Berlin was interesting and sociable as they met their audience and fans. They were hosted by Berlin based producers Laura Coppens who is a doctorate student in ethnological studies in Zurich and Angelika Levi, doc filmmaker (My Life, Part 2 about growing up Jewish in Berlin).
Bergman & Magnani: The War of the Volcanos. This invitation-only work in progress with Wide House uses a unique way to show the emotion filled and the biggest jet-set love scandal of all times, the story of Roberto Rossellini, Anna Magnani and Ingrid Bergman as Rosellini and the volcanic Anna Magnani ended their relationship after making Volcano (1950) and the married Ingrid Bergman and Rossellini began theirs with the filming of Stromboli (1950), the name of the second volcano on this Aeolian Island which has been in almost continuous eruption for 2,000 years. The visuals of their stories are illustrated entirely with the scenes from movies starring them as they enact the real life emotions and the commentary of the doc. I am most interested to see how well this technique succeeds.
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Caesar Must Die (Isa: Rai Trade) is a moving illustration of the transformative power of art as hardened criminals in an Italian prison rehearse and perform Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The the 80 + year old Brothers Taviani deserve recognition for their artistic excellence. I can't argue with Mike Leigh and the jury's judgement except that on my emotional meter, Rebelle (War Witch) was the real winner.
Rebelle (War Witch) by Kim Nguyen (Isa: Films Distribution) should have won the Golden Bear. The Silver Bear for Best Actress was awarded to Rachel Mwanza, but this film is so deeply moving on the most primal levels, maintaining its African roots while touching our most sensitive emotions of parents, love, rape, pregnancy and infants as they are experienced by a female child soldier from ages 12 to 14. It should also win Best Foreign Language Film in next year's Academy Awards. Produced by the industry vets Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even, it is yet another feather in the cap of the the Canadian film industry.
Dieter Kosslick observed that with 15 Competition titles confirmed at the time Screen International interviewed him, “both thematically and geographically, we have many films coming this year from Asia, and particularly China and Indonesia. There is also an interesting focus on France this year, beginning with the opening film Farewell My Queen (Les adieux a la reine) (Isa: Elle Driver) and going through all of the festival’s sections. Moreover, we have two French jury members [Francois Ozon and Charlotte Gainsbourg] in the International Jury.“ Eight titles selected to date have German majority or minority participation, so German filmmakers and (co-)producers will again enjoy a record presence in the Competition on a par with 2011’s tally of eight films involving German directors or German production partners." He also notes Competition films' trending toward "times of upheaval and new departures... with many films coming from Africa and Arab countries". My observation of the 23 Competition films finally selected is that the nostalgic look back at European aristocracy and top social tiers (A Royal Affair, Bel Ami, Farewell My Queen) and its mores stands in stark contrast to today's upheavals of families and children (Childish Games, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Postcards from the Zoo, Just the Wind, Mercy, Shadow Dancer, Sister, Rebelle, Home for the Weekend, Jayne Mansfield's Car, Coming Home). Seven other films continue the theme of social upheavals: Tey - which deal with childhood memories of Senegal experienced by an American, Captive about Phillipine hostages, Barbara an Eastern German looking to move to the West, Caesar Must Die about prisoners finding art in their sequestered lives, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate about upheavel during the Ming Dynasty, White Deer Plain about upheavel towards the end of Imperial China, The Flowers of War about the upheavel of China by the Japanese in World War II. The exceptions, Tabu and Meteora, deal with love, the Saving Grace.
Two major disappointments were Steven Soderberg's Haywire (Isa: Mandate) and Stephen Elliott's Cherry. Both about women, they left me puzzled with what the plot was about. Pretty, well done and negligible.
This Berlin Diary Part 2 will continue after I work on my new and soon-to-be launched website! I have spent an entire day on this blog and I still have much more to write!
1) Education: I taught and led tours of the market for Berlinale's Talent Campus Meet the Experts, for Deutsche Welle Akademie Film Festival Workshop, and for Ina Sup, a TV, film and new media school based in France and linked to the French National Audiovisual Institute (Ina). This is the most rewarding work, seeing what talent is coming up in our world, seeing ideas take hold as the students learn about the market.
2) Our Consulting: Another pillar of our company, aside from blogging and professional education, is strategic planning with filmmakers. This Berlinale was very intense and very energizing for my partner Peter Belsito and me, with Beyond the Moonwalk having found a berth for international sales representation with Steve Arroyave's Arrow Entertainment and a U.S. distribution commitment, and more actively involving, with Donna Deitch's The Catcher, where a series of meetings with top German and Canadian producers and sales agents gave the project the momentum of a race horse bound for first place!
What follows are my impressions of various other Berlin events as they passed by -- ever so quickly -- but still with enough eye-catching power to capture my attention in the first place.
I was happy to see Jeff Lipsky and Adopt Films' co-managing executive Tim Grady cleaning up with 3 acquisitions; no time to waste anymore as the third Bingham Ray memorial pointed out to those who have the mind to realize the message. Sister (L'enfant d'en haut) by Ursula Maier (Isa: Memento, Swiss rights with FilmCoopi), I hear is A+, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Caesar Must Die (Cesare deve morire) (Isa: Rai Trade) won the Golden Bear, and Chris Petzold's Barbara, all in Competition.
American indie works-in-progress have been granted a second chance to screen for European indie distributors (EuropaDistribution) at the upcoming Paris Film Festival in June. I have been invited to be on the jury of "U.S. in Progress" and am thrilled at the prospect. I was honored to have been invited to be on the jury in Wroclaw at the American Film Festival in November as well, for the first edition of this chance for U.S. filmmakers to win post-production and cash prizes. This is where the film Now, Forager was picked up by fledgling international sales agent, the only international sales agent in Poland, New Europe Sales founded by Jan Naszewski [jnaszewski At gmail.com] and Anja Sosic [anja At NewEuropeFilmSales.com]. The film went on to screen at Rotterdam Film Festival. Even hotter news will be forthcoming from Moma and The New York Film Society's New Directors/ New Films about one of the films at the Aff's "U.S. in Progress". If you missed it in Poland you will be able to see it in New York this April!
I was lucky to see two films during the market and after the market closed, this last Saturday and Sunday, when I caught some more films I was unable to see earlier due to my "real" work. Of the films I saw here in Berlin, here are my unique :) comments for what they're worth.
Children of Srikandi (Panorama) is a very personal account by a female filmmaker collective in Indonesia on what it means to be a lesbian in their society. The sweet intimacy of the film overrides its non-professional veneer (the "filmmakers" were all non-professionals). In fact, this could serve as a template for other non-professionals who want to tell their stories. Schools come to mind as possible candidates for this sort of filmmaking, as does my own pet project, The Literacy Project. The Indonesian contingent here in Berlin was interesting and sociable as they met their audience and fans. They were hosted by Berlin based producers Laura Coppens who is a doctorate student in ethnological studies in Zurich and Angelika Levi, doc filmmaker (My Life, Part 2 about growing up Jewish in Berlin).
Bergman & Magnani: The War of the Volcanos. This invitation-only work in progress with Wide House uses a unique way to show the emotion filled and the biggest jet-set love scandal of all times, the story of Roberto Rossellini, Anna Magnani and Ingrid Bergman as Rosellini and the volcanic Anna Magnani ended their relationship after making Volcano (1950) and the married Ingrid Bergman and Rossellini began theirs with the filming of Stromboli (1950), the name of the second volcano on this Aeolian Island which has been in almost continuous eruption for 2,000 years. The visuals of their stories are illustrated entirely with the scenes from movies starring them as they enact the real life emotions and the commentary of the doc. I am most interested to see how well this technique succeeds.
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Caesar Must Die (Isa: Rai Trade) is a moving illustration of the transformative power of art as hardened criminals in an Italian prison rehearse and perform Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The the 80 + year old Brothers Taviani deserve recognition for their artistic excellence. I can't argue with Mike Leigh and the jury's judgement except that on my emotional meter, Rebelle (War Witch) was the real winner.
Rebelle (War Witch) by Kim Nguyen (Isa: Films Distribution) should have won the Golden Bear. The Silver Bear for Best Actress was awarded to Rachel Mwanza, but this film is so deeply moving on the most primal levels, maintaining its African roots while touching our most sensitive emotions of parents, love, rape, pregnancy and infants as they are experienced by a female child soldier from ages 12 to 14. It should also win Best Foreign Language Film in next year's Academy Awards. Produced by the industry vets Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even, it is yet another feather in the cap of the the Canadian film industry.
Dieter Kosslick observed that with 15 Competition titles confirmed at the time Screen International interviewed him, “both thematically and geographically, we have many films coming this year from Asia, and particularly China and Indonesia. There is also an interesting focus on France this year, beginning with the opening film Farewell My Queen (Les adieux a la reine) (Isa: Elle Driver) and going through all of the festival’s sections. Moreover, we have two French jury members [Francois Ozon and Charlotte Gainsbourg] in the International Jury.“ Eight titles selected to date have German majority or minority participation, so German filmmakers and (co-)producers will again enjoy a record presence in the Competition on a par with 2011’s tally of eight films involving German directors or German production partners." He also notes Competition films' trending toward "times of upheaval and new departures... with many films coming from Africa and Arab countries". My observation of the 23 Competition films finally selected is that the nostalgic look back at European aristocracy and top social tiers (A Royal Affair, Bel Ami, Farewell My Queen) and its mores stands in stark contrast to today's upheavals of families and children (Childish Games, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Postcards from the Zoo, Just the Wind, Mercy, Shadow Dancer, Sister, Rebelle, Home for the Weekend, Jayne Mansfield's Car, Coming Home). Seven other films continue the theme of social upheavals: Tey - which deal with childhood memories of Senegal experienced by an American, Captive about Phillipine hostages, Barbara an Eastern German looking to move to the West, Caesar Must Die about prisoners finding art in their sequestered lives, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate about upheavel during the Ming Dynasty, White Deer Plain about upheavel towards the end of Imperial China, The Flowers of War about the upheavel of China by the Japanese in World War II. The exceptions, Tabu and Meteora, deal with love, the Saving Grace.
Two major disappointments were Steven Soderberg's Haywire (Isa: Mandate) and Stephen Elliott's Cherry. Both about women, they left me puzzled with what the plot was about. Pretty, well done and negligible.
This Berlin Diary Part 2 will continue after I work on my new and soon-to-be launched website! I have spent an entire day on this blog and I still have much more to write!
- 3/10/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Congolese actress Rachel Mwanza has been granted a Us visa to attend this year's Academy Awards.
The 16-year-old is the main star of War Witch, a film about child soldiers in Africa, which is the Canadian submission in the foreign language film category.
She was cast by Montreal director Kim Nguyen despite no previous acting experience.
Mwanza was later named 'Best Actress' at the Berlin and Tribeca Film Festivals for her role of Komona in the film, also known under its French title Rebelle.
"Abandoned by her family and living on the streets as a child, her life has been transformed by the making of the film," Nguyen said in a statement.
"To have her journey end on the red carpet is beyond anything she could have dreamed of."
The producers of War Witch are also attempting to arrange a meeting between Mwanza and her idol Beyoncé, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The 16-year-old is the main star of War Witch, a film about child soldiers in Africa, which is the Canadian submission in the foreign language film category.
She was cast by Montreal director Kim Nguyen despite no previous acting experience.
Mwanza was later named 'Best Actress' at the Berlin and Tribeca Film Festivals for her role of Komona in the film, also known under its French title Rebelle.
"Abandoned by her family and living on the streets as a child, her life has been transformed by the making of the film," Nguyen said in a statement.
"To have her journey end on the red carpet is beyond anything she could have dreamed of."
The producers of War Witch are also attempting to arrange a meeting between Mwanza and her idol Beyoncé, according to the Los Angeles Times.
- 2/21/2013
- Digital Spy
(thanks to alan of montreal) Best Motion Picture “L’Affaire Dumont” Nicole Robert “Inch’Allah” Luc Déry, Kim McCraw “Laurence Anyways” Lyse Lafontaine “Midnight’s Children” David Hamilton “Rebelle / War Witch” Pierre Even,...
- 1/17/2013
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
Tribeca Film Festival (Tff) audiences responded enthusiastically to writer/director Kim Nguyen’s child soldier drama War Witch, which received the Founders Award for best narrative feature at the festival. Nguyen earned an even better prize with news today of Tribeca Film acquiring U.S. rights to the drama for a planned theatrical release in early 2013. Nguyen shot the film in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and signed nonprofessional actress Rachel Mwanza to play a 14-year-old girl experiencing a peaceful life for the first time after escaping from the rebels who kidnapped her to become a child soldier. Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin of Montreal-based Item 7 produced the movie.
- 6/13/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Tribeca Film Festival (Tff) audiences responded enthusiastically to writer/director Kim Nguyen’s child soldier drama War Witch, which received the Founders Award for best narrative feature at the festival. Nguyen earned an even better prize with news today of Tribeca Film acquiring U.S. rights to the drama for a planned theatrical release in early 2013. Nguyen shot the film in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and signed nonprofessional actress Rachel Mwanza to play a 14-year-old girl experiencing a peaceful life for the first time after escaping from the rebels who kidnapped her to become a child soldier. Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin of Montreal-based Item 7 produced the movie.
- 6/13/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Viggo Mortensen (Sigmund Freud), Michael Fassbender (Carl Jung), A Dangerous Method Monsieur Lazhar Tops Genie Awards Meilleur Film / Best Motion Picture A Dangerous Method – Martin Katz, Marco Mehlitz, Jeremy Thomas CAFÉ De Flore – Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin, Jean-Marc Vallée * Monsieur Lazhar – Luc Déry, Kim McCraw Starbuck – André Rouleau The Whistleblower – Christina Piovesan, Celine Rattray Meilleure RÉALISATION / Achievement In Direction David Cronenberg – A Dangerous Method Steven Silver – The Bang Bang Club Jean-marc VALLÉE – Café de Flore * Philippe Falardeau – Monsieur Lazhar Larysa Kondracki – The Whistleblower Meilleures Images / Achievement In Cinematography Miroslaw Baszak, C.S.C. – The Bang Bang Club Pierre Cottereau – Café de Flore Jon Joffin – Daydream Nation * Jean-FRANÇOIS Lord – Snow & Ashes Ronald Plante – Monsieur Lazhar Meilleur Montage / Achievement In Editing Jean-FRANÇOIS Bergeron – The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom Michael Czarnecki – In Darkness Patrick Demers – Jaloux * STÉPHANE Lafleur – Monsieur Lazhar Ronald Sanders, C.C.E. A.C.E. – A Dangerous Method...
- 3/9/2012
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Zegers ("Transamerica," "Dawn of the Dead") are close to joining the cast of Jeff Renfroe's $16 million Canadian sci-fi thriller "The Colony" for Alcina Pictures, Item 7 and Mad Samurai Productions says The Hollywood Reporter.
The story deals with a group of underground survivors after the next Ice Age fending off an invasion of feral cannibals.
Renfroe, Patrick Tarr, Pascal Trottier and Svet Rouskov co-wrote the script. Shooting kicks off next week in Toronto and will continue through late March.
Paul Barkin, Colin Brunton, Matthew Cervi, Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin are producing.
The story deals with a group of underground survivors after the next Ice Age fending off an invasion of feral cannibals.
Renfroe, Patrick Tarr, Pascal Trottier and Svet Rouskov co-wrote the script. Shooting kicks off next week in Toronto and will continue through late March.
Paul Barkin, Colin Brunton, Matthew Cervi, Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin are producing.
- 2/16/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Mars et Avril is a striking new Canadian science fiction film, currently in post-production. The feature film about a future where people are emigrating to Mars is based on the graphic novels of the same name and is written, produced and directed by newcomer Martin Villeneuve who was kind enough to pass along some stills from his film and give us an update on where production's at... and if you're wondering why the film looks so visually interesting, it's because Belgian comic book artist François Schuiten, who has worked on film's such as Golden Compass and Mr. Nobody) is on production design duties.
To get the world of Mars et Avril just right, the film was shot almost entirely on green screen and with a budget of $2 million - a decent size for a Canadian production - Villeneuve was actually able to do the technique justice.
Synopsis:
Mars et Avril...
To get the world of Mars et Avril just right, the film was shot almost entirely on green screen and with a budget of $2 million - a decent size for a Canadian production - Villeneuve was actually able to do the technique justice.
Synopsis:
Mars et Avril...
- 4/4/2011
- QuietEarth.us
At the beginning of every month, Ioncinema.com's "Tracking Shot" features about a half dozen projects that are moments away from lensing and that we feel are worth signaling out. This August, we've got a good grouping of titles that are positioning themselves for a Cannes release next May. On the indie front, any hopes of seeing Lee Daniels' Selma go into production appear to be dashed, financing woes might pull the plug on the production despite this being a perfect opportunity, especially in today's climate, to re-introduce a film which has racism in the forefront. We are awaiting confirmation on a filmmaker from our American New Wave 25 profiles to confirm a start date this month, but three established veteran indie filmmakers will be commencing production shortly: Rodrigo García is looking to direct Glenn Close's Albert Nobbs project, Mark Pellington's low budget I Melt With You will...
- 8/1/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Vanessa Paradis has joined the French-language romantic drama "Cafe de flore" for Item7, Monkey Pack Films and Crazyfilms says The Hollywood Reporter.
The narrative follows two different storylines - one set in the 1960s which follows the mother (Paradis) of a child with Down syndrome. The other is in the present and follows a couple.
Jean-Marc Vallee ("The Young Victoria," "C.R.A.Z.Y.") directs from a script he wrote and describes as an "epic love story that deals with supernatural resources".
Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin, Jean-Yves Robin, Nicolas Coppermann and Vanessa Fourgeaud will produce. Filming kicks off this Summer in Montreal and Paris.
The narrative follows two different storylines - one set in the 1960s which follows the mother (Paradis) of a child with Down syndrome. The other is in the present and follows a couple.
Jean-Marc Vallee ("The Young Victoria," "C.R.A.Z.Y.") directs from a script he wrote and describes as an "epic love story that deals with supernatural resources".
Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin, Jean-Yves Robin, Nicolas Coppermann and Vanessa Fourgeaud will produce. Filming kicks off this Summer in Montreal and Paris.
- 5/20/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Vanessa Paradis is set to star in the French-Canadian romance film "Cafe de Flore." Jean-Marc Vallee ("The Young Victoria") directs from his own screenplay. Paradis stars as a devoted mother to a developmentally disabled child. The film will follow parallel stories set in Paris in the 1960s and Montreal in 2010. Item7, Crazyfilms and Monkey Pack Films co-produce. Item 7's Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin produce with Jean-Yves Robin, Nicolas Coppermann and Vanessa Fourgeaud of Monkey Pack films and Vallee for Crazyfilms. Principal photography starts this summer in Montreal then moves to Paris.
- 5/19/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Vanessa Paradis will star in "Cafe de flore," a time-spanning love story that marks director Jean-Marc Vallee's return to French-language filmmaking.
French-Canadian Vallee wrote and directed 2005's "C.R.A.Z.Y.," his award-winning 1970s-set breakthrough, then directed the Emily Blunt period movie "Young Victoria," released last year. He began writing "Cafe" just before he took on the Graham King-produced "Victoria."
"I have been writing it since 2007, and when I was offered 'Young Victoria,' a love story, I thought why not do it, it will be good practice," said Vallee, who also directs. "I see this as a continuation of 'C.R.A.Z.Y,' which gave me the confidence and the wings to fly high."
Vallee describes "Cafe" as "an epic love story that deals with supernatural resources." It tells two stories, one set in the 1960s and follows a mother of a child with Down syndrome, and the other...
French-Canadian Vallee wrote and directed 2005's "C.R.A.Z.Y.," his award-winning 1970s-set breakthrough, then directed the Emily Blunt period movie "Young Victoria," released last year. He began writing "Cafe" just before he took on the Graham King-produced "Victoria."
"I have been writing it since 2007, and when I was offered 'Young Victoria,' a love story, I thought why not do it, it will be good practice," said Vallee, who also directs. "I see this as a continuation of 'C.R.A.Z.Y,' which gave me the confidence and the wings to fly high."
Vallee describes "Cafe" as "an epic love story that deals with supernatural resources." It tells two stories, one set in the 1960s and follows a mother of a child with Down syndrome, and the other...
- 5/18/2010
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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