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The International Documentary Association Presents Doc U: A Conversation With Morgan Spurlock, Hosted by KCRW’s Matt Holzman

2013-06-05T17:48:31+00:00

Monday, June 17, 2013
7:30pm - 9:00pm Discussion & Audience Q&A
Reception to Follow

Cinefamily
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Inside Man, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Supersize Me) comes to Doc U! Known for his intimate portraits of subjects and deep examination of topics, Spurlock embraces cutting edge storytelling formats, including 3-D and web only broadcast, pushing the boundaries of what we expect from a documentary. Join KCRW’s Matt Holzman (Matt’s Movies, The Business) for a conversation with Spurlock, a look at the evolution of his storytelling form, and discussion of his latest project, Inside Man, with CNN Films, premiering Sunday, June 23 at 10:00PM.

More information and tickets available at http://doc-u-jun-2013.eventbrite.com/

A & E Network Show “Occult” Now Casting First Season

2013-04-25T10:38:58+00:00

“Occult”, an upcoming show from A & E Network and producer Michael Bay, is now casting co-starring roles for its first season which begins production in Mid-May.

This suspenseful series will be about a troubled FBI agent who is distraught over the loss of his wife. He teams up with a female FBI agent to create a new task force which investigates occult crimes.

“Occult” is being written by James Wong, who has also co-written the shows “American Horror Story” and “The Event”.

The show will be produced by Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller and James Wong for Platinum Dunes in association with A & E Network.

ROLES AVAILABLE:

FEMALES

[“Alana Hutchins”], any ethnicity, 18 - Mid 20s. Alana is an outgoing, smart, popular, and privileged college girl who happens to be the daughter of the Governor of Louisiana. Alana has a wild streak and loves to go out partying with her sorority sisters. But despite her boldness, Alana has lived a sheltered life up until now, and there is a touch of naivete about her. When Alana is suddenly kidnapped by a mysterious cult, she panics and is extremely traumatized by the experience. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Lucy”], any ethnicity, 20s. Lucy is a brash, bold, and spunky “goth” woman who is obsessed with the occult. She wears black lipstick, and she is pretty, mysterious, and alluring. Lucy has a tendency to be reckless and often gets a thrill out of dangerous situations. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Lin”], Asian, 20s. Lin is a smart, fearless, and quietly confident policewoman who works for the New Orleans Police Department. Despite her toughness, Lin is still able to have a healthy sense of humor when she’s off duty. PRINCIPLE ROLE

[“Blair”], any ethnicity, 30s - 40s. Blair is a brilliant, thick-skinned, and brassy FBI Agent who is every bit as strong-willed as her male colleagues at the Bureau. She is an Ivy League graduate and she is very insightful about the inner workings of the criminal mind. STARRING ROLE

[“SWAT Commander”], any ethnicity, 40s - 50s. This female SWAT Commander is a tough, commanding, and hard-nosed woman who works for the FBI under Agent Thompson. She is stationed outside of a building where the Governor’s daughter is being held hostage. PRINCIPLE ROLE

MALES

[“Temo”], any ethnicity, 20s. Temo is an intelligent, offbeat, introverted, and quirky guy who works at a mortuary. Temo is in charge of tagging and storing all of the dead bodies which come into the morgue. He has a somewhat aloof attitude toward his job, and he also has a dark and macabre sense of humor. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Josh”], any ethnicity, 18 - Mid 20s. Josh is a fun-loving, reckless, and yet charismatic guy with a sarcastic sense of humor who is spending his spring break in New Orleans this year. He is a charming and handsome guy who loves to go clubbing with his college buddy Matt. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Thompson”], any ethnicity, 30s - 40s. Thompson is a clever, sharp-minded, and highly driven FBI Agent who has been assigned to the investigation of the kidnapping of the Governor’s daughter. Thompson has a very focused and undramatic quality about him. He can think on his feet but never overeacts to anything. STARRING ROLE

[“Monroe”], any ethnicity, 50s. Monroe is a stern, demanding, and yet level-headed and concerned director of the FBI office in New Orleans. He takes his job with the utmost seriousness and often must scold the agents who work underneath him. He’s physically imposing and can be quite intimidating to people. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Captain Cooper”], any ethnicity, 40s - 50s. Captain Cooper is a serious, commanding, and very formal man who is a police captain for the New Orleans Police Department. He is very brief with his words and always asks direct questions which get right to the point. The officers in his department all look to him with admiration. CO-STARRING ROLE

Please send photos and resumes by April 30th to CableThriller@gmail(dot)com for more information!

.........

The International Documentary Association Presents: Doc U: Access Granted - A Guide to Fair Use and the DMCA for Doc Filmmakers

2013-04-09T14:16:46+00:00

In association with the USC Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic at the USC Gould School of Law

Monday, April 22, 2013
7:30pm - 9:00pm Discussion & Audience Q&A
Reception to Follow

Cinefamily
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Last year, an IDA-led coalition of filmmakers achieved a historic exemption in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) that allows documentary filmmakers to “crack” digital encryption on certain types of media (including “ripping” DVDs). What does it mean to claim fair use and how do you do it? What does the DMCA prohibit you from doing, and what does it allow you to do? What are the parameters for knowing when your access and use of copyrighted content is allowable under fair use, and covered by this exemption? In this special edition of Doc U, we will explore how to make fair use responsibly, and how to safely make use of the DMCA exemption for doc filmmakers.

Led by Professor Jack Lerner, IDA Board Member, and Director of the USC Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic at the USC Gould School of Law, the seminar includes an overview of fair use by Dean Cheley of the law firm Donaldson + Callif, and an in-depth “How To” guide to understanding and applying the DMCA exemption for documentary filmmakers, presented by Law Clinic participants Garrett Lee and Katharine Trendacosta.

More information and tickets available at: http://doc-u-apr-2013.eventbrite.com

Doc U is the International Documentary Association’s series of educational seminars and workshops for aspiring and experienced documentary filmmakers. Taught by artists and industry experts, participants receive vital information and insight on various topics relevant to the world of documentary filmmaking.

For more information on IDA’s Doc U, including Doc U Online go to documentary.org/doc-u

Special support provided by:
Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Hollywood Foreign Press Association
T3Media
IMAX
FirstCom Music
Brooks Institute
Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles
Axis Pro
Indie Printing
Members and Supporters of IDA

Jack Lerner, Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic, USC Gould School of Law
http://www.iptlc.usc.edu
Professor Lerner received a B.A., with distinction, in English from the University of Kansas and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He clerked for Judge Fred I. Parker on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge G. Thomas Van Bebber in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. He practiced intellectual property law with the Palo Alto, Calif., firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. and in 2004 was a research fellow with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. Before joining USC, Professor Lerner was Clinic Fellow at the Samuelson Law, Technology, and Public Policy Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

Among Professor Lerner’s publications are “Intellectual Property and Development at WIPO and WHO,” (American Journal of Law and Medicine 2008), “Taking the ‘Long View’ on the Fourth Amendment: Stored Records and the Sanctity of Home” (with Mulligan) (Stanford Technology Law Review 2007), “Legal Issues Facing Election Officials in an Electronic Voting World” (with Burstein, Dang and Hancock) (2007), and amicus curiae briefs in Hepting v. AT&T, Inc.; United States v. Martingnon; and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd.

Professor Lerner leads law students in the USC Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic as they counsel and represent policymakers, artists, innovators, nonprofit organizations, and others on a range of IP and technology issues. Among other things, under Professor Lerner’s supervision Clinical Interns have successfully sought two exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act on behalf of a wide coalition of documentary filmmakers that have helped countless filmmakers nationwide to exercise thair fair use rights, and worked with policymakers in the developing world to conduct a major survey of copyright limitations and exceptions among Pacific Rim economies.

Dean Cheley, Associate, Donaldson + Callif
http://www.donaldsoncallif.com
Dean Cheley is an entertainment attorney who offers expertise in all areas of the entertainment industry, including structuring deals and negotiating contracts for individuals and corporations involved in the film and television industry. He works with book authors, screen writers, performers, directors and producers, as well as institutions such as studios, networks, guilds and talent agencies. Prior to joining the firm, Dean litigated numerous types of entertainment disputes, including copyright and trademark infringement, rights of publicity, breach of contract and partnership disputes.

Mr. Cheley received his law degree in 2006 from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall), where he was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award and was Executive Editor of The Berkeley Technology & Law Journal. While at law school, he interned at the Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic, where he authored comments on behalf of media archives, filmmakers and libraries in response to a US Copyright Notice of Inquiry concerning orphan works and exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Prior to his career in law, Mr. Cheley worked as a producer and consultant for companies developing new media technologies, e-commerce, and branded entertainment. He brings this experience to bear advising his clients with regard to copyright, trademark, licensing and other intellectual property matters, as well as marketing and other promotional activities related to the entertainment industry. Dean earned his bachelor’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Digital & New Media Studies, an Interdisciplinary Program sponsored by faculty in the schools of Design, Film and Television and Communication.

19TH ENCOUNTERS SHORT FILM AND ANIMATION FESTIVAL 17 – 22 SEPTEMBER 2013, BRISTOL, UK CALL FOR ENTRIES

2013-03-25T10:39:39+00:00

The early deadline for submissions is less than a week away for works completed in 2012 - 29 March 2013

Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival is one of the best-known international showcases and meeting points for emerging talent, and is the leading UK gateway to the world’s most prestigious short film and animation awards: the BAFTAs, Oscars®, European Film Awards and Cartoon d’Or. The festival presents a unique opportunity for industry and creatives to network and develop new collaborations. Now is your chance to get noticed on an international stage and compete for up to £12,000 in cash prizes. For works completed in 2013 the Final deadline is 3 June 2013.

Short films and animations of any genre (fiction, documentary, experimental, music video) under 30 minutes are eligible.

Online submissions are powered by reelport.com. There are discounts for multiple submissions, and if your film isn’t selected it can still be seen by delegates during the festival via our online Digital Viewing Library.

Full entry guidelines and online submission at www.encounters-festival.org.uk/submit-films

Still need convincing? Browse our reasons to submit over at www.pinterest.com/encounterssff/why-to-submit-to-encounters

The International Documentary Association Presents: Doc U: Docs on TV - Evolution of the Broadcast Landscape

2013-03-14T17:49:12+00:00

Monday, March 18, 2013
7:30pm - 9:00pm Discussion & Audience Q&A
Reception to Follow

Cinefamily
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

The last few months have seen a number of major changes in the broadcast outlets for nonfiction programs. CNN launched CNN Films, upping the network’s commitment to long format documentaries. Participant Media acquired the Documentary Channel and Halogen TV, to be re-branded and launched this summer as a new channel featuring scripted and nonscripted programming, and LA’s KCET, the nation’s largest independent public television station, has merged with Link TV creating KCETLink, a new transmedia independent network that acquires, produces and distributes provocative global programming. With these new ventures, and other evolving players on the scene, we’ll take a look at the outlook for docs on TV.

What programming will these new channels be seeking? How will their content to be accessed in the variety of ways available to consumers today? How do these new outlets increase the visibility and availability of docs and non-fiction content? How do these new initiatives, acquisitions and mergers signal the future for non-fiction works on television?

Join Tom White, Editor of Documentary magazine, and a panel of industry insiders including Belisa Balaban, SVP, Unscripted Programming at Participant Media; Gary Dauphin, Director, New Media, KCET,;and Lizzie Kerner, Director of Development & Acquisitions at CNN Films, as they discuss the changing landscape and new opportunities for docs on television.

More information and tickets available at http://doc-u-mar-2013.eventbrite.com/

Belisa Balaban, Senior Vice President, Unscripted Programming for Participant Television

Belisa Balaban is Senior Vice President, Unscripted Programming for Participant Television. She is responsible for overseeing the development and production of unscripted series for Participant’s new TV network.

Belisa started her career in television in her home town, New York City, as a junior casting director, and then a development executive, working at Fox and Comedy Central. In 1999, she moved out to LA to work for the WB in Comedy and Alternative programming. As an executive, Belisa was involved with a wide range of projects including Strangers with Candy, The Upright Citizens Brigade, and The PJs. In 2001, Belisa went to Actual Reality Pictures where she developed and oversaw all pilots and series, including Freshman Diaries for Showtime, Military Diaries for VH1, and Thin for HBO Documentary Films.

In August 2004, Belisa and her husband Ted Skillman formed the production company, snackaholic. Together they executive produced many pilots and series, including Tabloid Wars for Bravo, a documentary set behind-the-scenes at the New York Daily News, and Bollywood Hero, a 3-hour musical comedy for IFC, following the fictional account of Chris Kattan’s pursuit of stardom in India. Belisa and Ted also produced Grammy nominated documentary “From the Sky Down” for Davis Guggenheim about the making of U2’s Achtung Baby.

Over the years, Belisa has also sought out and created multiple socially relevant TV projects, including The Swell Life, a 10-episode documentary series following the Paskowitz family raising their child with autism. Earlier in 2012, she developed and produced the Emmy-nominated special, It Gets Better, inspired by the anti-bullying project for LGBT youth, which aired on MTV and Logo.

In 2005 Belisa went to northern Kenya to film the work being done by The Samburu Project, an NGO that collaborates with communities in order to provide easy access to clean, safe drinking water, and this began an ongoing relationship with the organization. Closer to home, Belisa supports Surfer’s Healing, an organization that gives children with autism and their families a sense of community and an much-needed escape to a day on the beach.

Lizzie Kerner, Director of Development & Acquisitions, CNN

Lizzie Kerner is director of development and acquisitions, CNN, based in Los Angeles. In this position, she is responsible for cultivating relationships within the creative community and developing original programming, including product for the CNN Films banner, across a variety of CNN platforms.

Additionally, she works on CNN’s new weekend programs, Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain, Inside Man, with Morgan Spurlock, and Crimes of the Century, all premiering in 2013.

Prior to joining CNN in August 2012, Kerner was manager of original programming & development at Sundance Channel. In that role, she developed high-profile non-fiction programs that include Push Girls, All on the Line with Joe Zee and Love/Lust, and served as executive producer on the series The Mortified Sessions.

At Sundance, Kerner also developed scripted projects that include Top of the Lake and Rectify.

Earlier, she held positions at the Independent Film Channel and Viacom Productions.

A graduate of University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in American History and Film, she also studied at the University of Pompeu Fabra in Spain. She resides in Los Angeles.

Nicolas Cage Movie “Left Behind” Now Casting for April

2013-03-11T15:22:59+00:00

“Left Behind”, an upcoming movie from Samuel Goldwyn Films, is now casting co-starring roles for production which begins in April.

From the producer of “Romance and Cigarettes”, this action movie will be about a group of people who struggle to survive in the aftermath of a natural disaster which has mysteriously removed people from Earth.

“Left Behind” will star Nicolas Cage and Ashley Tisdale. The movie was written by Paul Lalonde and John Patus, and it will be directed by Vic Armstrong.

The movie is being produced by J. David Williams, Paul Lalonde, and Michael Walker for Stoney Lake Entertainment in association with Samuel Goldwyn Films.

ROLES AVAILABLE:

FEMALES

[“Venice”], any ethnicity, 18 - Mid 20s. Venice is an attractive, sensitive, and fearless woman who has made an effort to change her past ways——she is a recovering drug addict who has spent several years in drug rehab and has finally quit the habit. Venice was once an aspiring fashion model and she still has something of a wild streak to her personality. When Venice is traveling on a plane, she at first begins to panic as several passengers suddenly vanish without explanation. STARRING ROLE

[“Shasta Carvell”], African-American, 30s. Shasta is a caring, emotionally dramatic, and slightly neurotic suburban housewife who is married to an NFL player. She is very protective of her daughter Katie and would do anything to shield her from harm. Shasta is traveling with Katie on a plane when suddenly her little daughter vanishes. Shasta begins to panic. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Hattie Durham”], any ethnicity, 20s - 30s. Hattie is a pretty, glamorous, and confident woman who is a stewardess for a major commercial airline. She has a very wry sense of humor and a sharp intellect. She meets a pilot named Ray and they get along right off the bat. Hattie begins to have feelings for Ray and they make plans to get together when they reach Europe. But during the flight a horrible crisis begins to take place. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Irene Steele”], Caucasian or African-American, 40s - 50s. Irene is an old-fashioned, loyal and dignified woman who is very religious. She has attended church regularly for years and strongly believes in biblical scripture. Irene is married to an airline pilot named Ray. What Irene doesn’t know is that her husband Ray is considering cheating on her with a flight attendant. PRINCIPLE ROLE

MALES

[“Edwin”], any ethnicity, 18 - Late 20s. Edwin is a highly intelligent, clean-cut, “fashionably geeky”, and articulate college grad who suddenly finds himself thrust into a situation in which the normal rules of science no longer apply. He is traveling on an airplane when suddenly many of the passengers inexplicably disappear. Edwin begins to freak out, and he must question all of the science he has ever learned in order to get a handle on what is happening. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Bruce Barnes”], any ethnicity, 30s - 40s. Bruce is a stoic, self-disciplined, and humble man who has a polite and respectful way of dealing with people. He is deeply religious, and he has dedicated his life to being a pastor at a church. Bruce originally comes a small town, and his old-fashioned manners clearly come from his upbringing. He presides over the congregation at the church that Irene Steele regularly attends. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Melvin Weir”], Caucasian, 40s. Melvin is a tormented soul. He is a proud yet embittered, self-reliant yet troubled, and hard-working yet hot-tempered man who is furious over the loss of his job. He has a history of taking out his anger on other people——and when his fellow passengers starts vanishing on his plane flight, Melvin attempts to blame the phenomenon on a Middle Eastern passenger. PRINCIPLE ROLE

[“Dennis Beese”], Caucasian or African-American, 50s. Dennis is a highly-respected, blunt, and powerful petroleum executive from Houston who is both revered and feared by his colleagues in the oil business. He is used to getting his way in life and is used to having complete cooperation from his underlings. CO-STARRING ROLE

Please send photos and resumes by March 15th to CageThriller@gmail(dot)com for more information!

.........

Warner Brothers Movie “The Judge” Now Casting for Spring

2013-02-27T11:59:15+00:00

“The Judge”, a major upcoming movie from Warner Brothers Pictures, is now casting co-starring roles for production which begins in Late May.

From the director of “Wedding Crashers”, this dramatic movie will be about a slick big-city attorney who returns to his rural hometown for his mother’s funeral only to discover that his senile father is a murder suspect.

“The Judge” will star Robert Downey Jr. The movie was written by Nick Schenk and Bill Dubuque, and it will be directed by David Dobkin.

The movie is being produced by Susan Downey and David Gambino for Big Kid Pictures and Team Downey in association with Warner Brothers Pictures.

ROLES AVAILABLE:

FEMALES

[“Carla”], any ethnicity, 18 - Late 20s. Carla is an extremely intelligent, pretty, and determined young woman who is currently studying to be an attorney. She meets Hank Palmer at a restaurant and they get along right off the bat. Carla has a wry sense of humor and a sharp intellect——both of which are qualities that Hank is drawn to. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Sam”], any ethnicity, 30s - 40s. Sam is a frank and honest, beautiful, and down-to-earth woman who grew up in the same small town as Hank Palmer. She dated Hank back in high school but their romance ended after he left town to become an attorney. Sam is now an entrepreneurial woman——she has made a lot of money in real estate, but the wealth has not gone to her head. STARRING ROLE <

MALES

[“Dale Palmer”], Caucasian, African-American, or Latino, 20s. Dale is a rumpled but charming, eccentric, and somewhat troubled guy who still lives in the small town where he was born. He is a caring and concerned young man who is currently helping to take care of his senile father. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“C.P. Kennedy”], any ethnicity, 30s. C.P. Kennedy is a down-to-earth, clean-cut, and well-intentioned small-town lawyer who comes from humble roots. He is a genuinely unassuming and nice guy——but these qualities sometimes make it difficult for him to fight hard enough in a courtroom setting. CO-STARRING ROLE

[“Glen”], Caucasian, 40s. Glen is a lethargic, downtrodden, and mildly depressed man who runs an auto parts shop in a small town. He was once an up-and-coming sports star when he was younger, but an accident on the field forced him to drop out of sports. PRINCIPLE ROLE

[“Dwight Dickham”], any ethnicity, 40s - 50s. Dwight is a stern, hard-nosed, and ruthless lawyer who is the prosecuting attorney in the murder case against Judge Palmer. He seems to be a well-mannered gentleman at first, but when he’s arguing in the courtroom he will stop at nothing to put Judge Palmer behind bars. CO-STARRING ROLE

Please send photos and resumes by March 4th to TheJudgeMovie@gmail(dot)com for more information!

INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES TO CELEBRATE 11th YEAR

2013-02-19T15:26:20+00:00

IFFLA to Celebrate 11th Year April 9-14, 2013 at ArcLight Hollywood

MEDIA ALERT/CALENDAR LISTING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Big Time PR & Marketing
Sylvia Desrochers / Tiffany Wagner
(424) 208-3496
Sylvia at bigtimetoday dot com
Tiffany at bigtimetoday dot com

INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES TO CELEBRATE 11th YEAR
APRIL 9-14, 2013 AT ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (February 5, 2013) – The 11th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) will take place April 9-14, 2013, at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. The six-day fest will once again bridge the gap between the two largest entertainment industries in the world – Hollywood and India. The festival will showcase more than 30 films from or about India, host the highly anticipated opening and closing red carpet galas and an awards ceremony, bring back the wildly popular “Bollywood by Night” series, and feature seminars as well as live music and dance performances. IFFLA will also host the 6th annual Industry Leadership Awards honoring entertainment industry executives who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership within and in relation to the Indian entertainment industry.

The full line-up of films will be announced in late February.

WHO: Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)

WHAT: 11th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles featuring more than 30 films, galas, Industry Leadership Awards, seminars, live music and dance performances, and awards for best feature film, documentary, and short film.

WHERE: ArcLight Hollywood
6360 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

WHEN: April 9-14, 2013

WHY: IFFLA aims to create a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, honoring entertainment industry performers and business executives, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora.

MORE: Contact (310) 988-2602 or info at indianfilmfestival dot org

WEBSITE: www.indianfilmfestival.org for more details and a complete list of sponsors and archives.

The International Documentary Association Presents: Doc U: Managing Your Doc’s Debut - Building A Film Festival Strategy

2013-02-15T19:25:13+00:00

Monday, February 25, 2013
7:30pm - 9:00pm Discussion & Audience Q&A
Reception to Follow

Cinefamily
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

You’ve run a fundraising campaign, used every favor, worked long hours, and now you’re ready to get your film out into the world. Film festivals are an important and productive outlet at which to get your film seen, build buzz, and hopefully lock distribution. But with ever more festivals crowding the calendar, how do you decide which is best for your film? What are festival programmers looking for? What costs should you anticipate if your film gets accepted? In the frantic and often overwhelming schedule at a festival, how do you make the most of the experience, and get your film noticed by buyers? What are buyers looking for, and how will they get in touch with you? And how do you determine if the festival circuit is even the right venue to launch your film?

Join moderator Kevin Iwashina, IDA Board Member and Managing Partner, Preferred Content for a candid discussion on making the most of your film’s festival run with panelists John Cooper, Director, Sundance Film Festival, Ryan Werner, Senior VP, Marketing and Publicity, IFC Films, Susan Margolin, Co-President of Cinedigm Entertainment Group, and Stephanie Allain, Director of the Los Angeles Film Festival.

More information and tickets available at http://doc-u-feb-2013.eventbrite.com/

TRISTANA: Luis Buñuel’s Controversial 1970 Masterpiece opens 2/22 @ Landmark’s Nuart Theatre

2013-02-13T23:45:43+00:00

Luis Buñuel’s TRISTANA stars Catherine Deneuve as an orphaned young woman who becomes the ward of a nobleman (Fernando Rey) who seduces her. She then leaves him for an artist (Franco Nero) but returns to her aging benefactor and calculatingly hastens his demise. Filmed in Toledo, Spain, it was released in 1970 after protracted skirmishes with censors in Generalissimo Franco’s government. TRISTANA was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 1971 Academy Awards. The film is now restored by Cohen Film Collection in conjunction with Filmoteca Española, Madrid to its original glory not seen since its original release in 1970.

Considered a Luis Buñuel late-period masterpiece, TRISTANA received its American premiere at the New York Film Festival, and was widely acclaimed. Vincent Canby, in his review for The New York Times, called it “nothing less than the quintessential Buñuel film of all time.” Of Catherine Deneuve in her role as the naïve waif turned hardened cynic, he said: “…never before has her beauty seemed more precise and enigmatic.”

TRISTANA is distributed by Cohen Media Group, a leading distributor of foreign-language and independent English-language films in the U.S. It is Cohen’s second restored feature film to be re-released, following the restoration of The Thief of Bagdad, the classic silent Hollywood romantic adventure starring Douglas Fairbanks.
http://cohenmedia.net/tristana/synopsis/
trailer for the new restoration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSRcBb8gb4
The film’s running time is 98 minutes; rating is PG. In Spanish; fully subtitled in English.

In his review, Mr. Canby noted the film’s “uncommonly handsome” color photography by José Aguayo. However, the remaining known negative of TRISTANA had experienced staining and color shifting over the years, giving the film a pinkish cast – “a not uncommon problem with film stock used in the 1960s and ‘70s,” according to Timothy Lanza, archivist for the Cohen Film Collection. The original production integrity of TRISTANA has been restored by combining the negative with segments from a quality positive in a high-res digital format, with the aid of DeLuxe Laboratories in New York and Filmoteca Española in Madrid.

Luis Buñuel Portolés, born in Spain in 1900, became a leader of the surrealist film movement starting with Un Chien Andalou in the silent film era. In his six-decade career, he worked in Mexico, Hollywood, France and Spain during various periods, making films known especially for their criticism of bourgeois morals and what he regarded as the hypocrisy of religion. With the release of his most widely acclaimed film, Viridiana, in 1961, he became a dominant international figure in the movie industry. Among Buñuel films best known in the U.S. are Belle de Jour, which also starred Catherine Deneuve, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, and his last movie, That Obscure Object of Desire. The director died in 1983.

One of France’s most renowned actresses, Catherine Deneuve has appeared in over 100 films, including iconic early performances in Repulsion and Belle de jour. Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in Indochine; she also won César Awards for that film and The Last Metro. She has appeared in seven English-language films, most notably the 1983 cult classic The Hunger. Spanish actor Fernando Rey appeared in more than 150 films over half a century, including the prominent Buñuel films Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, and That Obscure Object of Desire. He is known widely to American audiences for his role as a drug lord in The French Connection. Italian heartthrob Franco Nero’s breakthrough lead role was in the 1966 spaghetti western Django; he also appears in the new Quentin Tarantino homage Django Unchained, and is known for roles in Camelot, Force 10 from Navarone, Enter the Ninja, and Die Hard 2.

https://www.facebook.com/events/584294171598850/

Landmark’s Nuart Theatre 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles (310) 281-8223
Show times (valid: 2/22-2/28) Fri-Sun 12:00, 2:30, 5:00 7:30 9:50; Mon-Thu at 5:00 7:30 9:50.
Tickets are $10.50 for general admission and $8.50 for seniors, students, and children.
Tickets are available online: https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=209 and at the theatre box office.