Carl Icahn Now Wants ALL Of Lionsgate 
FINAL MGM BIDS DUE FRIDAY: So Who's In And … 
Action Comedy TV: Showrunner Matt Nix 
SAG National Board Approves Joint Bargaining … 
BBC Drama Unfreezes Development Money; … 
Lionsgate Board Rejects Icahn's $6/Share 
Is Betting On Box Office Good For Films? 
Marvel Still Looking For Captain America 
'Sopranos' Creator To Film Rock Drama 
LIVE-SNARKING THE 82ND OSCARS... 
'ALICE' IS A MONSTER! $116.3M Blows Past … 
Oscar Not-So-Thriller: Diller Mogul Picnic 
'Precious' Sweeps 25th Indie Spirit Awards 
Howard Stern Won't Be Next 'Idol' Judge 
Justin Theroux Readying 'Zoolander 2' For …
Beverly Hills, CA — Nominee credits for Best Documentary Feature nominee "The Cove" have been determined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Documentary Branch Executive Committee. Credits are as follows:
"The Cove" – Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens
Academy rules for the documentary feature category state that a maximum of two persons may be designated as nominees, one of whom must be the credited director, and the other of whom must have a producer or director credit. Psihoyos is the film's director, Stevens has a producer credit.
You are viewing the Category: “Documentaries”
Academy Firms Oscar Credits For 'The Cove'
'People vs George Lucas' Debuts At SXSW
A year ago, when I ran the teaser for The People vs George Lucas, comments flooded in both pro and con this documentary. And the pic itself intrigues me because it features so many Industry types talking about Lucas in a negative way as they debate his legacy. (Like calling him the "anti-Christ" and "evil genius of marketing"....) Now the film has been selected for the Spotlight Premiere section at the South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin next month.
JJ Abrams & Jason Blum Ask Paramount To Hook Sundance Hit 'Catfish': UPDATE: Brett Ratner & Relativity Make An Offer
EXCLUSIVE! 1 AM UPDATE: I was just told that Brett Ratner is saying that he and Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh have made an offer for Catfish "with no need for test screenings". This is getting interesting!
EXCLUSIVE! 8:30 PM: Catfish was the Sundance offering widely thought to have the most commercial potential of any of this year's films even though it didn't win any awards. But the documentary was a hit with audiences there, as Mike Fleming previously reported, and got a resounding ovation for the cyber romance that develops between a 24-year old photographer and the sister of a youth who takes an interest in his work. Now I've learned that major Paramount player JJ Abrams and up-and-coming Paramount player Jason Blum are both interested in having the studio release the film. No deal -- yet.
But, towards that end, I've also confirmed that Paramount is having a test screening on the lot tomorrow to see how Catfish played before an audience. Kudos to two websites, FirstShowing.net and Cinematical.com who first found out about the test screening because of the Twitter buzz. According to FirstShowing, the invite "specifically mentions that attendees should have seen and enjoyed films like Cloverfield, Paranormal Activity, Slumdog Millionaire, or An Inconvenient Truth. Is it a coincidence that they just named three of Paramount's biggest indie successes in the last few years?" You think? JJ was the producer on Cloverfield, and Blum on Paranormal Activity.
Secret J.D. Salinger Documentary & Book, Now Revealed (Mike Has Seen The Film)
EXCLUSIVE: Judging by the J.D. Salinger obituaries and tributes, there is just as much interest in the Catcher in the Rye author after his death as there was during his life when he shunned the spotlight for reclusion in Cornish, New Hampshire. Now I can report that Shane Salerno, a 37-year-old screenwriter who’s currently writing Fantastic Voyage for Fox and James Cameron, has directed and produced Salinger, a 2-hour documentary locked late last year after 5 years in the making.
Salerno financed the film out of his pocket, interviewed 150 sources, and accumulated so much information that he collaborated on a 700-page companion book with bestselling author David Shields.
The 150 sources interviewed in the film either worked with Salinger at The New Yorker or had contact with him otherwise, or were greatly influenced by him. The famous names include Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton, John Cusack, Danny DeVito, John Guare, Martin Sheen, David Milch, Robert Towne, Tom Wolfe, E.L. Doctorow, A. Scott Berg, Elizabeth Frank, Gore Vidal, and many other fans, journalists, filmmakers, playwrights, and artists inspired by Salinger's work.
The film -- kept under the radar until now -- wasn’t done in time for consideration at this year's Sundance Film Festival. As a result, the filmmaker hoped to present it at a spring film festival, like Cannes. It will be shopped shortly by WME Entertainment and Robert Offer for distribution and remake. The book, also complete, will be shopped by IPG’s Brian Lipson and literary agent ... Read More »
Thumbs Up For 2 Sundance Documentaries
UPDATES Bids Coming In For Hot Sundance Pics
UPDATES So What Are The Hot Films At Sundance?
While Sundance buyers try to hook Catfish, two other docus that came with distributors unveil today and tomorrow, and I found them great viewing. Alex Gibney has a 6 PM premiere today for the competition entry Casino Jack And The United States Of Money, about disgraced Washington DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Tomorrow, PR mogul-turned-filmmaker Dan Klores unveils Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks, which like Catfish is part of the Documentary Spotlight program.
Gibney -- the Oscar-winning director of Taxi To The Darkside and Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room --gave me an early peek at his docu, which makes a compelling case for campaign finance reform. The film, which will be released by Magnolia Pictures in April, bares outrageous abuses and moral corrosion that transformed Abramoff from GOP true believer to fatcat lobbyist who got rich protecting the interests of Asian slave labor-sweat shop owners, murderous third world “freedom fighters,” Russian gangsters, Indian casino operators, and drug companies. Through Abramoff, pols fed at the money trough until they, too, were brought down by the ensuing scandal.
Abramoff comes across as a colorful but deluded movie-loving rogue who patterned himself as a Jason Bourne-type character but ended up cast as a villain who is serving four ... Read More »
TOLDJA! Daniel Battsek Appointed President Of National Geographic Films
UPDATES EXCLUSIVE: Battsek Becoming Prez Of Nat Geo Films; Leipzig To Produce
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 20, 2010)—Daniel Battsek has been named president of National Geographic Films and will begin Monday, March 15. The appointment was announced today by David Beal, president of National Geographic Entertainment (NGE), to whom Battsek will report. Battsek will be responsible for development, production, acquisitions and distribution of all of NGE’s film endeavors.
“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far with National Geographic Films, and we’re thrilled to have Daniel Battsek, a true leader in the international film production and distribution community, take us to the next level,” said Beal.
“Daniel knows the independent film world and knows how to develop great films associated with iconic brands, so we’re excited to have him leading the National Geographic Films banner,” added Tim Kelly, president and CEO of the National Geographic Global Media group.
Battsek joins NGE after 18 years with Walt Disney Studios, the last four as president of Miramax Films where he led all operations including creative, acquisitions, production, distribution, marketing and publicity. During his time at Miramax, Battsek oversaw a number of acclaimed and award-winning projects, including “No Country for Old Men,” which won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Picture, and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “The Queen,” “There Will Be Blood”* and “Doubt.” Prior to joining Miramax, he was
... Read More »
EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Battsek Becoming President Of National Geographic Films; Adam Leipzig Leaving To Produce
UPDATES Disney Shows Daniel Battsek The Door
I don't have any official confirmation yet. But my sources tell me that Miramax president Daniel Battsek has landed. He has been in quiet negotiations to assume the top post at National Geographic Films because Adam Leipzig, who has been president for the past six years, wants to leave to return to his producing roots. And my sources say Battsek has just closed the deal to become president of National Geographic Films. Leipzig, who is staying until mid-March, leaves behind a rich legacy in addition to the 2nd highest grossing documentary of all time March Of The Penguins which he bought for $1 million. Leipzig will be producing for National Geographic Films, of course. Battsek is a great piece of manpower and I'm glad he snagged his new job so quickly after Disney eviscerated Miramax.
15 Documentaries Advance In Oscar Voting
Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Eighty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:
“The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
“Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
“The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
“Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
“Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
“Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
“Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
“Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures)
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
“Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
“Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
“Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
“Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
“Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
“Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)The Documentary Branch Screening Committee viewed all the eligible documentaries for the preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist. The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in
... Read More »
Late Entry Irv Weintraub Passed Over
UPDATES Irv Weintraub On Short List For Jewish Philanthropy Prez
Former William Morris COO, and late addition to the short list, Irv Weintraub lost out on that job to be president of the Jewish Federation. The search committee picked Jay Sanderson, who has led the the Jewish Television Network since 1989 and exec produced the PBS series, The Jewish Americans, and the upcoming PBS documentary on modern genocide, Worse Than War.
Michael Moore And Harvey Weinstein Shut Out At Venice Film Festival; Israeli War Film 'Lebanon', U.S. Helmer Todd Solondz Win
Director Samuel Maoz's hard-hitting Israeli war movie Lebanon won the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice film festival today. 
The film went inside a tank to focus on a young Israeli conscript during the 1982 war. "I dedicate this award to the thousands of people all over the world who, like me, come back from war safe and sound," the director told the audience at the 11-day cinema showcase. Another frontrunner, American director Todd Solondz's dark comedy Life During Wartime picked up best screenplay.
Two prominent American pictures were shut out of the festival's official jury awards -- Michael Moore's attack on corporate greed, Capitalism: A Love Story, and The Weinstein Company's The Road, which John Hillcoat adapted from Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic novel. This will no doubt affect Harvey Weinstein' release plans for it. Moore's pic did receive the Leoncino d'oro Award from 26 local youths selected by the festival, but nothing from the official jury -- even though he personally came to Venice to premiere his documentary (see trailer here). So did Oliver Stone, whose South Of The Border debuted out of competition. The screening of this indictment of U.S. media's villification of Huge Chavez (trailer here) prompted the Venezuelan president to walk the red carpet alongside Stone.
Iranian video artist Shirin Neshat won the Silver Lion for best director for Women Without Men, set during Iran's foreign-backed coup in 1953. British actor Colin Firth won ... Read More »
There's Not Enough 'Twilight' Crap Already
This sounds like a parody, doesn't it?
LOS ANGELES -- Sept. 11, 2009 — Summit Home Entertainment announced today the acquisition of the documentary feature TWILIGHT IN FORKS: THE SAGA OF THE REAL TOWN directed by Jason Brown, a three time Emmy Award winner. Produced by Brown, as well as York Baur and Peter Cowles and their company Heckelsville Media, the feature chronicles for TWILIGHT fans the story behind Forks, Washington, which serves as the primary setting for the popular TWILIGHT books and films. Additionally, the documentary features untold tales of Forks’ unique history, mysticism and culture.Summit plans to release the film onto DVD in conjunction with the home entertainment debut of the second film in the TWILIGHT franchise – THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, which is set to arrive in stores during the first part of 2010.
Steve Nickerson, Summit’s President of Home Entertainment, stated, “The fans of the TWILIGHT SAGA will enjoy this look into the real town of Forks, its natural beauty and the interesting people that call it home. We are excited to make this incredible documentary available to Twilight fans early next year.”
TWILGHT IN FORKS offers a tantalizing mix of real-world Forks and the fantasy that makes the TWILIGHT saga so irresistible. Fans will get to hear from the real people living their lives in the town, including: the Chief of Police, the Forks Outfitters’ employee who gets mistaken for the franchise’s leading lady Bella,
... Read More »
London Film Festival Announces Line-Up
This year's London Film Festival line-up for October 14-29 will be announced today by Artistic Director Sandra Hebron. Among the total of 191 features and 113 shorts screening are the Opening Night film, Wes Anderson’s FANTASTIC MR. FOX presented by the director and cast members including Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Helen McCrory. There also will be the UK premiere of John Lasseter’s TOY STORY 2 in Disney Digital 3D. And George Clooney will also be in attendance to support his role in THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS. New films representing the next wave of American independent filmmaking includes Sophie Barthes’ COLD SOULS, Andrew Bujalski’s BEESWAX, Sam Fleischner and Ben Chace‘s WAH DO DEM, Nicholas Jasenovec’s PAPER HEART, and Suzi Yoonessi’s DEAR LEMON LIMA.
World premieres include Sam Taylor-Wood’s Closing Night Gala NOWHERE BOY, and the Festival’s first ever Archive Gala, the BFI’s new restoration of Anthony Asquith’s UNDERGROUND, with live music accompaniment by the Prima Vista Social Club led by Neil Brand.
The Festival will also host 23 European premieres, including Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s MICMACS, Scott Hicks’ THE BOYS ARE BACK and Robert Connolly’s BALIBO, as well as Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni’s THE WELL and Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson’s MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN. The 4 international premieres that will be featured are "45365" from Bill and Turner Ross, Celine Danhier’s BLANK CITY, Mike Judge’s EXTRACT, and Rumle Hammerich’s HEADHUNTER.
Directors travelling to ... Read More »
Salvadoran Gang Documentarian Murdered
News reports say a French documentary maker who spent years filming a brutally violent Salvadoran street gang was found shot in the head inside a car in a gang-riddled El Salvador neighborhood. El Salvador's top prosecutor said gangs were suspected in the killing of 53-year-old Christian Poveda, the maker of La Vida Loca examining the violent lives of gang members who fuel El Salvador's high homicide rates. The documentary filmed gang initiations, drug use, tattoo sessions, shootings, beatings, and funerals. On the day of his death, the filmmaker had set out to arrange an interview with female gang members for journalists from a French fashion magazine. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner praised the former war photographer's work, calling him "a respected journalist, a professional who never hesitated to take great risks in the name of freedom of information." Poveda had recently begun touring with La Vida Loca.
Trailer: Oliver Stone's 'South Of The Border'
I've been given the U.S. exclusive look at the trailer for Oliver Stone’s new documentary South of the Border which is sharply critical of the U.S. media's coverage of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and 6 other Latin American leaders. Stone will personally premiere the film at the Venice Film Festival this Monday:
rtmp://streaming.deadline.com/ondemand/video/bc-archive/1379067645_36922353001_Freud-Trailer-Final.flvTribeca Film Festival Calls For Submissions
The Tribeca Film Festival and Tribeca All Access will run from April 21 to May 2 in New York City and Tribeca Film Institute's Tribeca All Access program from April 19 to 26. The Festival also announced a Call for Submissions for narrative and documentary features as well as for short film entries. TAA has announced a call for qualifying feature length scripts and documentary works-in-progress.
Deadlines to submit U.S. and International films for the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival:
September 14 – SUBMISSIONS OPEN
November 13 – EARLY DEADLINE, FEATURES & SHORTS
December 14 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, ALL FEATURES AND SHORTS COMPLETED IN 2009
January 11 – LATE DEADLINE, FEATURES STILL IN POST-PRODUCTION AFTER OFFICIAL DEADLINE
Starting September 14, submission forms and complete information regarding eligibility for the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival will be available at www.tribecafilm.com/festival.
Deadlines for U.S.-based filmmakers to submit for the 2010 Tribeca All Access:
September 14 – SUBMISSIONS OPEN
October 26 – EARLY DEADLINE
December 14 – FINAL DEADLINE
Internationally-based filmmakers should apply through one of TAA’s partner organizations (UK Film Council, ScreenAustralia, or the Canadian Film Centre).
Submission forms and complete information regarding eligibility for the 2010 Tribeca All Access program will be available at www.tribecafilminstitute.org starting September 14, 2009.
More On Whether AMPAS Screws Indies...
More than anything, this back-and-forth shows what a nasty piece of work Bruce Davis is. How the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences keeps his job as executive director is one of Hollywood's great mysteries. Here's the update to Does AMPAS Screw Indies With Rule 12? with the AMPAS response to Gigantic Releasing's Mark Lipsky (edited to remove address), followed by Lipsky's rejoinder:
---
July 13, 2009
Mr. Bruce Davis
Executive Director
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & SciencesDear Mr. Davis,
Thank you for your response to my July 6 letter to Mr. Ganis.
With all due respect, comparing “Must Read After My Death” to made-for-TV productions by Playhouse 90, reaching back to the 1950s for support of a 21st century rule seems a curious stretch. You write that the Academy governors of the 1950’s made a decision to “focus their attention on theatrical films.” With that statement, and somehow without realizing it, you’ve made my central point for me. “Must Read After My Death” is very much a theatrical film. Morgan Dews worked tirelessly for several years to research and produce the picture and, as you know, it was exhibited theatrically in New York and LA.
You must also be aware that, even in better times, independent filmmakers have traditionally had to struggle as hard to achieve distribution for their films as for getting them made at all. It often required generous amounts of pluck, luck and timing for
... Read More »
TEASER: 'The People vs George Lucas'
This upcoming feature documentary, The People vs George Lucas, intrigues me because it features so many Industry types talking about Lucas in a negative way as they debate his legacy. (Like calling him the "anti-Christ" and "evil genius of marketing"....) Those interviewed include Lucas intimate and producer Gary Kurtz, Sandy Lieberson (former head of production at 20th Century Fox), Dale Pollock (author of Skywalking), producer Anthony Waye, and David Prowse (aka Darth Vader). But also, sadly, second-rate film reviewers and writers. Presumably, the top ones were too scared to diss George. The documentary comes out in 2010:
Doors Documentary Snags Johnny Depp
I already wrote about how the world premiere screening of Wolf Films' (i.e. Law & Order Dick Wolf's) When You're Strange, that documentary about The Doors, met with such a great response at the Sundance Film Festival. Now Wolf has scored another coup: getting Johnny Depp to narrate. I hear there'll be an announcement about this Saturday night at the Berlin Film Festival. Every frame of the footage, most of it never-before-seen, was shot between 1966 and 1970. And all the surviving Doors were at Sundance supporting the film -- Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore. The doc covers the entire 54 months of the band, starting with Jim and Ray in film school, and includes a lot of concert and in-studio footage. I can't help thinking what Oliver Stone's The Doors might have been like if only Depp had played Jim Morrison and not Val Kilmer.
Paramount Vantage Reorganizes Big-Time
UPDATE: Paramount Pictures is now announcing what my sources told me: it's taking its faux indie division Paramount Vantage's marketing,
distribution, and physical production and combining those three into big Paramount. But I'm also assured that Paramount Vantage will still be an ongoing brand that will still be developing and acquiring specialty product with dedicated creative staff. Only now the films will be released by big Paramount. As part of this, the co-president of marketing at Vantage, Megan Colligan, will be joining Paramount Pictures as 
co-president of domestic marketing alongside Josh Greenstein, upped from EVP of marketing at Paramount Pictures. Both will be reporting to Gerry Rich, who's president of worldwide marketing. Insiders tell me that Colligan's colleague, Guy Endore Kaiser, will likely be departing. Paramount later tonight will be officially announcing these management changes. Presumably, the poor peons will suffer consolidation as this reorganization proceeds. Vantage boss Nick Meyer still reports to John Lesher, who now gets to keep an even closer eye on his old stomping ground after his big promotion from Vantage head to president of the Paramount Film group. So will Rob Moore, who was upped the same time as Lesher -- from president of Paramount's worldwide marketing, distribution and home entertainment, to vice chairman of Paramount Pics. Hollywood has already seen Warner Bros shut down its faux indie Warner Independent Pictures. So I gotta ask: in light of today's news, what's the future of the other faux ... Read More »
News/Opinion Poll
Loading ...Box Office Poll
Loading ...
