The reaction from independent film distribution vets to Tribeca Enterprises' plan to distribute its festival films on Video On Demand (VOD) is most politely described as skeptical. The biggest hurdle facing Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Geoff Gilmore? Erasing the lingering perception that when a movie bypasses theatrical distribution for VOD, it’s DOA. Tribeca has secured VOD distribution on such cable providers as Comcast, Cablevision, and Verizon FIOS, but naysayers feel these cable giants often treat VOD as an after-thought, and don’t provide the promotional care and feeding that traditional distributors feel is vital to specialty film releases.
Tribeca’s chief creative officer Geoff Gilmore told me that he and the Tribeca team have carefully considered the pitfalls and have smoothed out a distribution road that has been as bumpy as the cobblestone streets that surround Tribeca's downtown headquarters. Gilmore believes the festival's growing momentum creates a high awareness level among specialty film lovers for a dedicated Tribeca VOD channel. That effort will be helped by promotional clout provided by longtime festival sponsor American Express, which signed on to become Founding Partner of Tribeca’s VOD distribution program, as well as a separate online venture that will show short films and broadcast filmmaker panels during the fest's run from April 21-May 2.
While it’s not exactly clear yet how much promotional might Amex will bring, one thing is for sure: promotional spends won’t be deducted from the film’s revenues the way traditional P&A costs are. ... Read More »
PARK CITY, UT – Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions for the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. In addition to the four Competition Categories, the Festival presents films in five out-of-competition sections to be announced on December 3. The 2010 Sundance Film Festival runs January 21-31 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.
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.
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.
I have been involved with many films over the years as an actor, director and producer. But working on The Cove has been one of my proudest moments in 28 years of being in the business. Getting the opportunity to make an exciting film, and one that can actually make a difference, is why I got into filmaking in the first place.
I've learned that Fox Atomic owns the rights to Grand Theft Auto. But to the movie title, not the game. It was, of course, Ron Howard who wrote and directed and starred in the little pic Grand Theft Auto back in 1977 for Roger Corman. So Fox optioned the rights for the Howard/Corman movie title a while back. A studio insider clarifies for me: "Yes, Fox owns the Corman movie. Yes, it has been one of 400 development projects for several years. But they are nowhere on the script. It has certainly not been a front-burner project." Strangely, the success of the video game hasn't put any new impetus on the studio to formulate a plan. And it doesn't matter that a supposed legal settlement over the game/movie/title dictates that Rockstar can't make a Grand Theft Auto movie or Corman/Howard/Fox a video game out of the title. C'mon, the movie can still shrewdly piggyback off the game's global branding. Here's my idea: Fox for old times sake should offer the project to Ron Howard since GTA jump-started his directorial career. Then let him incubate as a producer a new ... 

It seeks more than $4.1 million in unpaid bills and contracts, plus damages, interest and a 5% penalty for all sums not paid in full within 30 days of a demand for payment. It is yet the latest twist and turn in what is obviously becoming a financial meltdown in Bergstein's film production and distribution empire which includes ThinkFilm and Capitol Films. (See my previous,
The winner of the Palme D'Or is a frank tale about classroom life using real students and teachers at a junior high school and is shot in a raw, improvisational style to chronicle the events that unfold over one school year. Some 22 films were vying for top honors, which shut out Changeling, Clint Eastwood's raved about pic starring Angelina Jolie in the true-life story of a L.A. woman battling corrupt police. But the jury headed by Sean Penn gave a Special Award of this 2008 May 14th-to-25th festival to Eastwood and to the French actress Catherine Deneuve. The Grand Prize was awarded by Roman Polanski to director Matteo Garrone for Gomorra, a study of the criminal underworld in Naples. Best Actor went to Benicio del Toro in Steven Soderbergh's Che: "I'd like to dedicate this to the man himself, Che Guevara." Best Actress went to Sandra Corveloni in Linha de Passe.
