Swedish documentary filmmaker Anastasia Kirillova and “Negative Space” co-directors Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter are among the filmmakers who will receive grants from Rooftop Films to help complete their upcoming projects.
Kirilova will be awarded $20,000 to finish her film, “In the Shadows of Love,” while collaborators Kuwahata and Porter will receive $10,000 for “Dandelion Seed.”
Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization founded to showcase and fund the work of rising filmmakers and musicians in New York City. They provide cash grants to artists, rent equipment at affordable costs and organize film screenings.
“One of the great pleasures of working at Rooftop Films is that we have the opportunity to not only witness the growth of tenacious artists, but to support their visionary works as well,” said Dan Nuxoll, Rooftop Films’ artistic director. “This year’s grantees are among the most promising in all our years of championing independent cinema, and we...
Kirilova will be awarded $20,000 to finish her film, “In the Shadows of Love,” while collaborators Kuwahata and Porter will receive $10,000 for “Dandelion Seed.”
Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization founded to showcase and fund the work of rising filmmakers and musicians in New York City. They provide cash grants to artists, rent equipment at affordable costs and organize film screenings.
“One of the great pleasures of working at Rooftop Films is that we have the opportunity to not only witness the growth of tenacious artists, but to support their visionary works as well,” said Dan Nuxoll, Rooftop Films’ artistic director. “This year’s grantees are among the most promising in all our years of championing independent cinema, and we...
- 2/20/2019
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about shows including Star Trek: Discovery, This Is Us, Chicago Fire and Grey’s Anatomy!
1 | How would Fuller House‘s Danny have gone through an entire divorce without anyone in the family finding out? And after visiting the straight-out-of-a-Disney Channel sitcom Gibbler house, do you maybe wish that Kimmy’s childhood home had been kept a mystery?
2 | Outlander purists, how are you feeling about the Starz series’ resurrection of Murtagh?
3 | Did Star Trek: Discovery give...
1 | How would Fuller House‘s Danny have gone through an entire divorce without anyone in the family finding out? And after visiting the straight-out-of-a-Disney Channel sitcom Gibbler house, do you maybe wish that Kimmy’s childhood home had been kept a mystery?
2 | Outlander purists, how are you feeling about the Starz series’ resurrection of Murtagh?
3 | Did Star Trek: Discovery give...
- 9/29/2017
- TVLine.com
Well, new Law & Order: Svu showrunner Michael Chernuchin did promise that he was going to “throw the kitchen sink” at Olivia this season…
The Season 19 premiere, “Gone Fishin’,” certainly makes good on that promise, turning an innocent moment from the lieutenant’s home life into fodder for an investigation that could cost her that which she holds most dear: her son, Noah.
Meanwhile, Fin takes a little “vacation” to Cuba and winds up bringing home a perp who managed to get away the first time. But the cop’s illegal actions lead to a legal battle in which the serial...
The Season 19 premiere, “Gone Fishin’,” certainly makes good on that promise, turning an innocent moment from the lieutenant’s home life into fodder for an investigation that could cost her that which she holds most dear: her son, Noah.
Meanwhile, Fin takes a little “vacation” to Cuba and winds up bringing home a perp who managed to get away the first time. But the cop’s illegal actions lead to a legal battle in which the serial...
- 9/28/2017
- TVLine.com
Eric Lavallee: Name me three of your favorite “2013 discoveries”… Katie Stern: One of my favorite movies of the year was Spring Breakers, my favorite book was Kate Bornstein’s A Queer and Pleasant Danger, I finally saw and enjoyed Me at the Zoo, loved the Claes Oldenburg exhibit at MoMA, and felt sadly, underwhelmed by the Depeche Mode album (Delta Machine).
Lavallee: The underrated/under the radar Francine was your first fiction feature as a producer. I’d like to know what lessons carried over from making a miniscule film and how did the project come to you?
Stern: Francine was a true labor of love. I met Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky through Washington Square Films (where we represent them as commercial directors) and we instantly became friends. When they told me about the idea for the film, I was immediately intrigued. The world they described (and ultimately,...
Lavallee: The underrated/under the radar Francine was your first fiction feature as a producer. I’d like to know what lessons carried over from making a miniscule film and how did the project come to you?
Stern: Francine was a true labor of love. I met Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky through Washington Square Films (where we represent them as commercial directors) and we instantly became friends. When they told me about the idea for the film, I was immediately intrigued. The world they described (and ultimately,...
- 1/15/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
New Law And Order Svu season 15,episode 4 intriguing spoilers & clips hit the net. Last night, NBC released the new spoilers and sneak peek/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "Law And Order: Svu" episode 4 of season 15. The episode is entitled, "Internal Affairs," and it appears to be quite interesting and drama-filled as one of the Svu's own cops get caught up in a huge dirty cop bust, and more. In the "Internal Affairs" episode, officer Michael Groves is going to end up in a psych ward after turning on his old squad. He is also going to accuse the 12th precinct of cooking the books and making rape allegations disappear. Internal Affairs Lt. Tucker will enlist the help of the Svu to investigate, and plants Brian Cassidy as an undercover. But one crooked cop is going to go to great lengths to keep things as they are, and the squad will realize ,too late,...
- 10/3/2013
- by Chris
- OnTheFlix
Will an NCIS love’s exit rock Tony’s world? How might the NCIS: La premiere torture fans? What loco antics has the New Girl gotten herself into? What aims The Flash at Arrow‘s world? Read on for answers to those questions plus teases from other shows.
Related | NCIS Boss on Cote de Pablo’s Surprising Decision (‘I Really Wasn’t Planning for This’), Hints at ‘Romantic’ Exit Story
On NCIS, do you think “Tiva” will be together in the end? Or do you think it’ll be a kiss and then she leaves? I don’t think...
Related | NCIS Boss on Cote de Pablo’s Surprising Decision (‘I Really Wasn’t Planning for This’), Hints at ‘Romantic’ Exit Story
On NCIS, do you think “Tiva” will be together in the end? Or do you think it’ll be a kiss and then she leaves? I don’t think...
- 8/1/2013
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
The "Law & Order: Svu" finale is going out with a bang.
In HuffPost TV's exclusive preview above, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) are stumped by a mysterious criminal. "I had him," Benson says. "He was getting off on telling me the details." But things soon escalate and Benson finds herself in mortal danger.
"The finale starts off in a very casual tone where we're all on a day off," "Svu" star Danny Pino told TVGuide.com. "Then it slowly gets darker and darker, and by the end of the episode, it's about as dark as the episodes have ever gotten [and] I don't know if [Amaro] can help Benson."
Check out NBC's official description of the episode, titled "Her Negotiation," and tune in for the "Svu" finale on Wed., May 22 at 9 p.m. Et:
After making a seemingly routine arrest of a man exposing himself in Central Park, Detective...
In HuffPost TV's exclusive preview above, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) are stumped by a mysterious criminal. "I had him," Benson says. "He was getting off on telling me the details." But things soon escalate and Benson finds herself in mortal danger.
"The finale starts off in a very casual tone where we're all on a day off," "Svu" star Danny Pino told TVGuide.com. "Then it slowly gets darker and darker, and by the end of the episode, it's about as dark as the episodes have ever gotten [and] I don't know if [Amaro] can help Benson."
Check out NBC's official description of the episode, titled "Her Negotiation," and tune in for the "Svu" finale on Wed., May 22 at 9 p.m. Et:
After making a seemingly routine arrest of a man exposing himself in Central Park, Detective...
- 5/20/2013
- by Chris Harnick
- Huffington Post
We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about shows including NCIS: La, Justified, Scandal and Community!
1 | Is Degrassi really telling us that Fiona doesn’t understand what the Gps feature on Twitter means? And after watching the ensuing break-in, are we the only ones who feel validated in our decision not to join Foursquare?
2 | Was it a bit of a creative leap to think T.R. Knight’s otherwise genius Good Wife campaign strategist would’ve grilled Zach about his love life without first consulting Peter?...
1 | Is Degrassi really telling us that Fiona doesn’t understand what the Gps feature on Twitter means? And after watching the ensuing break-in, are we the only ones who feel validated in our decision not to join Foursquare?
2 | Was it a bit of a creative leap to think T.R. Knight’s otherwise genius Good Wife campaign strategist would’ve grilled Zach about his love life without first consulting Peter?...
- 3/22/2013
- by Team TVLine
- TVLine.com
On TV this Wednesday: The Huntress has Arrow in her sights, an Americans affair comes to light, Criminal Minds hunts an un-Friendly Follower and Suburgatory stuffs itself. As a supplement to TVLine’s original features (linked within), here are 10 programs to keep on your radar.
8 pm Arrow (The CW) | The Huntress is back in town and threatening to destroy everyone (like McKenna) and everything (no, not Verdant again!) Oliver cares about. (Electro house musician Steve Aoki presides over the hotspot’s opening.)
8:30 pm The Neighbors (ABC) | Skinnygirl magnate/former Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel guest-stars as a tough businesswoman who...
8 pm Arrow (The CW) | The Huntress is back in town and threatening to destroy everyone (like McKenna) and everything (no, not Verdant again!) Oliver cares about. (Electro house musician Steve Aoki presides over the hotspot’s opening.)
8:30 pm The Neighbors (ABC) | Skinnygirl magnate/former Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel guest-stars as a tough businesswoman who...
- 3/20/2013
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
"The Killing" has cast Peter Sarsgaard in his first regular TV role, EW reports.
He'll play Tom Seward, who is described as “a death row inmate for whom the clock is ticking down. A lifelong convict born into poverty and crime, Seward’s been in and out of the system for violent crimes since he was 10. Not ever wanting to appear weak, every interaction is a challenge, and one he must dominate.”
He joins previously cast Elias Koteas and Max Fowler for the AMC series' third season, alongside returning stars Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos.
In other casting news ...
Amy Seimetz also joins "The Killing." The multi-hyphenate indie movie actress has been cast in a regular role as Danielle Lutz, "a hard-living, financially strapped single mother whose 14-year-old daughter goes missing." [TVLine]
Sienna Guillory boards "Luther." The "Resident Evil" actress will play Mary, Idris Elba's love interest in the British drama's third season.
He'll play Tom Seward, who is described as “a death row inmate for whom the clock is ticking down. A lifelong convict born into poverty and crime, Seward’s been in and out of the system for violent crimes since he was 10. Not ever wanting to appear weak, every interaction is a challenge, and one he must dominate.”
He joins previously cast Elias Koteas and Max Fowler for the AMC series' third season, alongside returning stars Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos.
In other casting news ...
Amy Seimetz also joins "The Killing." The multi-hyphenate indie movie actress has been cast in a regular role as Danielle Lutz, "a hard-living, financially strapped single mother whose 14-year-old daughter goes missing." [TVLine]
Sienna Guillory boards "Luther." The "Resident Evil" actress will play Mary, Idris Elba's love interest in the British drama's third season.
- 2/13/2013
- by Laura Prudom
- Huffington Post
As we reach the end of an inspiring year for cinema, here are ten titles that stood out for me in 2012, and an explanation of why I chose each of them. Although I saw many of these at film festivals, so they may not make it to your local art house cinema, in the coming year you may be able to catch them at small festivals of different national/regional cinemas in your city, or at least on DVD.
From Thursday to Sunday (De Jueves a domingo)(dir. Dominga Sotomayor)
On a family road trip through rural Chile, a young girl witnesses her parents’ marriage fall apart.
-For its tender portrayal of childhood, complete with extroverted playfulness and introverted worry. For its subtle but consistent exploration of foreground versus background space, which reflects two separations: between children and adults, and between husband and wife.
Neighbouring Sounds (O som ao redor) (dir.
From Thursday to Sunday (De Jueves a domingo)(dir. Dominga Sotomayor)
On a family road trip through rural Chile, a young girl witnesses her parents’ marriage fall apart.
-For its tender portrayal of childhood, complete with extroverted playfulness and introverted worry. For its subtle but consistent exploration of foreground versus background space, which reflects two separations: between children and adults, and between husband and wife.
Neighbouring Sounds (O som ao redor) (dir.
- 12/24/2012
- by Alison Frank
- The Moving Arts Journal
The first major awards ceremony of the season, the Gotham Awards, was held last night in, of course, New York City, and while the main thrust of the ceremony is to honor indie filmmaking, the big winners could definitely impact the awards conversation for the Oscars.
Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" took the top prize for Best Feature and one big step toward becoming a contender when Oscar time rolls around. For the last few months, the film starring Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Edward Norton has been just outside the race for a Best Picture nomination, but all that could change in the next coming weeks, depending on how the Gotham win is perceived.
Check out a complete winners list after the jump!
Best Feature
Bernie
The Loneliest Planet
The Master
Middle of Nowhere
*Moonrise Kingdom*
Best Ensemble Performance
Bernie
Moonrise Kingdom
Safety Not Guaranteed
Silver Linings Playbook
*Your Sister's Sister...
Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" took the top prize for Best Feature and one big step toward becoming a contender when Oscar time rolls around. For the last few months, the film starring Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Edward Norton has been just outside the race for a Best Picture nomination, but all that could change in the next coming weeks, depending on how the Gotham win is perceived.
Check out a complete winners list after the jump!
Best Feature
Bernie
The Loneliest Planet
The Master
Middle of Nowhere
*Moonrise Kingdom*
Best Ensemble Performance
Bernie
Moonrise Kingdom
Safety Not Guaranteed
Silver Linings Playbook
*Your Sister's Sister...
- 11/27/2012
- by Kevin P. Sullivan
- MTV Movies Blog
In the battle of the Andersons, it was Wes who beat P.T for Best Feature at the 2012 Gotham Awards. Moonrise Kingdom would go 1 for 2 as Lynn Shelton’s Your Sister’s Sister easily among the year’s the best, for its natural, on-screen chemistry was handsomely awarded the Best Ensemble Performance prize. Making it an almost all Sundance Film Festival takes Gotham kind of year, in the Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You it’s Terence Nance’s An Oversimplification of Her Beauty which gets an extra boost for theatrical play. Pic was produced by Andrew Corkin who is lining up Jim Mickle’s We Are What We Are for festival play next year.
The heavy favorite in all categories combined was Beasts of the Southern Wild‘s Benh Zeitlin as Best Breakthrough Director and Audience award, while in the Breakthrough Actor category, it’s Emayatzy Corinealdi...
The heavy favorite in all categories combined was Beasts of the Southern Wild‘s Benh Zeitlin as Best Breakthrough Director and Audience award, while in the Breakthrough Actor category, it’s Emayatzy Corinealdi...
- 11/27/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Breaking: The Wes Anderson-directed Moonrise Kingdom captured the Best Picture Award at the 22nd Independent Feature Project’s Gotham Awards. Tonight’s fete at Cipriani Wall Street is the first of many awards gatherings, with this one specifically dedicated to the celebration of the best of independent film. The awards were hosted by Mike Birbiglia, who was up for a Breakthrough Actor Award for Sleepwalk With Me. Hate to say it, but he seemed to sleepwalk through his opening monologue, though it’s kind of a Gotham Award tradition to see awkward openings of the show. Birbiglia did a word for word recitation of David O Russell’s fit of anger toward Lily Tomlin in the virally distributed clip caught on the set of the 2004 film I Heart Huckabees. Nobody laughed, and after The Fighter and now Silver Linings Playbook, didn’t Russell (who was among those being honored...
- 11/27/2012
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The Independent Feature Project’s Gotham Awards were dished out tonight at Cipriani Wall Street, celebrating the best of independent film. The awards are being hosted by Mike Birbiglia, who is up for a Breakthrough Actor Award for Sleepwalk With Me. Hate to say it, but he seemed to sleepwalk through his opening monologue, though it’s kind of a Gotham Award tradition to see awkward openings of the show. Keep refreshing as we add winners. Breakthrough Director: Benh Zeitlin won for Beasts of the Southern Wild. The other nominees were Zal Batmanglij for Sound of My Voice Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky for Francine Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin for Now, Forager Antonio Méndez Esparza for Aquí y Allá (Here and There) Gotham Independence Film Audience Award Winner: Artifact: the documentary directed by Bartholomew Cubbins beat out nominees that included Beasts of the Southern Wild, which Jared Leto...
- 11/27/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING JR.
- Deadline
Francine
Directed by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky
Written by Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy
U.S.A./Canada, 2012
Everybody is wired a little bit differently, which is what makes each person a fully fledged individual. Of course, such idiosyncrasies do not always result in the most respectable or even relatable humans beings. While individuality is a wonderful product of the human experience, there are plenty of examples which clearly demonstrate that whatever aforementioned wiring is not helping someone integrate smoothly into society. Such people might be mentally unstable, perhaps criminals or they simply not have the capacity (nor the will) to associate with others. Two young filmmakers, Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky have collaborated on a new project along with one of independent film’s most recognizable names, Melissa Leo, on one peculiar project that observes the behaviour of one such unorthodox person.
Melissa Leo stars as the titular Francine,...
Directed by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky
Written by Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy
U.S.A./Canada, 2012
Everybody is wired a little bit differently, which is what makes each person a fully fledged individual. Of course, such idiosyncrasies do not always result in the most respectable or even relatable humans beings. While individuality is a wonderful product of the human experience, there are plenty of examples which clearly demonstrate that whatever aforementioned wiring is not helping someone integrate smoothly into society. Such people might be mentally unstable, perhaps criminals or they simply not have the capacity (nor the will) to associate with others. Two young filmmakers, Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky have collaborated on a new project along with one of independent film’s most recognizable names, Melissa Leo, on one peculiar project that observes the behaviour of one such unorthodox person.
Melissa Leo stars as the titular Francine,...
- 10/24/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Bernie, Middle of Nowhere, Moonrise Kingdom and Beasts of the Southern Wild each received a pair of nominations for the 22nd Gotham Independent Film Awards, but the big surprise has to be the Best Picture snub of Benh Zeitlin’s Sundance and Cannes winner. The jury of five favored Moonrise Kingdom, Bernie, Middle of Nowhere, The Loneliest Planet and The Master over other well-received truly indie titles such as Craig Zobel’s Compliance and James Ponsoldt’s Smashed. The awards will be handed out on November 26th.
Best Feature
Bernie
Richard Linklater, director; Richard Linklater, Ginger Sledge, Celine Rattray, Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer, Matt Williams, David McFadzean, Judd Payne, Dete Meserve, producers (Millennium Entertainment)
The Loneliest Planet
Julia Loktev, director; Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Helge Albers, Marie Therese Guirgis, producers (Sundance Selects)
The Master
Paul Thomas Anderson, director; Joanne Sellar, Daniel Lupi, Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison, producers (The...
Best Feature
Bernie
Richard Linklater, director; Richard Linklater, Ginger Sledge, Celine Rattray, Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer, Matt Williams, David McFadzean, Judd Payne, Dete Meserve, producers (Millennium Entertainment)
The Loneliest Planet
Julia Loktev, director; Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Helge Albers, Marie Therese Guirgis, producers (Sundance Selects)
The Master
Paul Thomas Anderson, director; Joanne Sellar, Daniel Lupi, Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison, producers (The...
- 10/18/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Last year, two of the films nominated for Best Feature at the Gotham Independent Film Awards went on to earn Oscar Best Picture nominations -- The Descendents and Tree of Life -- and this year two films nominated for Best Feature are currently on my list to be nominated for Best Picture. Those two are Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master and Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, which are joined by Bernie, The Loneliest Planet and the buzzy Middle of Nowhere. Bernie and Moonrise also find themselves nominated for Best Ensemble along with awards season heavyweight Silver Linings Playbook, while Beasts of the Southern Wild enjoys some Breakthrough attention with Benh Zeitlin nominated for Breakthrough Director and 8-year-old star Quvenzhane Wallis nominated for Breakthrough Actor. The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, November 26 and I have included the complete list of nominations for the 2012 Gotham Independent Film Awards...
- 10/18/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Master, Bernie, and Moonrise Kingdom were nominated by the Gotham Independent Film Awards for Best Feature. One of the first major awards ceremonies of the Oscar season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards focus attention on worthy independent films and breakthrough performances. Mike Birbiglia, who was nominated for a Breakthough Actor award for his performance in Sleepwalk With Me, will also host the ceremony on Nov. 26.
Click below for complete nominations.
Best Feature
Bernie
The Loneliest Planet
The Master
Middle of Nowhere
Moonrise Kingdom
Best Documentary
Detropia
How to Survive a Plague
Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present
Room 237...
Click below for complete nominations.
Best Feature
Bernie
The Loneliest Planet
The Master
Middle of Nowhere
Moonrise Kingdom
Best Documentary
Detropia
How to Survive a Plague
Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present
Room 237...
- 10/18/2012
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
New York, NY – The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the nation’s oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers announced today the nominees for the Gotham Independent Film Awards™. Signaling the kick-off to the film awards season, IFP’s Gotham Independent Film Awards™ nominations were given to a total of 26 films across six competitive categories for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor, Best Ensemble Performance, and Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You.
The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, November 26th at Cipriani Wall Street. In addition to the competitive awards, actors Marion Cotillard and Matt Damon, director David O. Russell, and Participant Media founder Jeff Skoll will each be presented with a career tribute.
As the first major awards ceremony of the film season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards™ provide critical early recognition and media attention to worthy independent films. Previous winners...
The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, November 26th at Cipriani Wall Street. In addition to the competitive awards, actors Marion Cotillard and Matt Damon, director David O. Russell, and Participant Media founder Jeff Skoll will each be presented with a career tribute.
As the first major awards ceremony of the film season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards™ provide critical early recognition and media attention to worthy independent films. Previous winners...
- 10/18/2012
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Strange and unsettling, "Francine" begins as a miniature, a doll's house of life's loose ends. Subtly, though, it blooms. On the strength of Melissa Leo's astounding performance, it pushes outward into a troubled society of haves and have-nots — becoming, quietly but forcefully, one of the best films of the year. Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Schatzky's tiny indie, which screened Friday at the New Orleans Film Festival, is sure to be off-putting to some. Nearly bereft of dialogue, full of anxious images, it never points firmly at a single theme. Its story of a woman struggling to remake her life after being released from prison for an unnamed crime would seem, on the surface, to contain the same redemptive possibilities as "Down to the Bone," "Sherrybaby," and "I Loved You So Long," but the filmmakers cannily undercut this narrative of progress at every turn. Rather, "Francine" inhabits a world of.
- 10/14/2012
- by Matt Brennan
- Thompson on Hollywood
★★★★☆ Starring Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo, Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky's Francine (2012) is a surprisingly provocative piece of stripped-down social realism that's subtle approach belies its powerful core themes. After serving time in prison for an undisclosed crime, Francine (Leo) begins to rebuild her life in a small American town. Her new home is as stripped of identity as she is, however, she finds comfort in the nature which surrounds it. She takes a series of jobs, all of which revolve around animal care but fails to hold any of them down due to her struggle to engage with other people.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 10/13/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Montreal’s Festival Du Nouveau Cinema (10.10 – 10.21) announced their line-up today for their 41st edition and among the smorgasbord of subtitle offerings dating back to this year’s Rotterdam, Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, Venice and Tiff editions, we’re knee-deep in avant-garde world cinema from the established auteurs Assayas, Vinterberg, Ozon, Sang-Soo, Joao Pedro Rodriguez, Larrain, Loach, Reygadas, Ghobadi, Mungiu and Miguel Gomes. Heavy on offerings from Quebec and France, the fest also manages to offer a stellar snapshot of the up-and-comers from all corners of the globe. Among the notable titles in the (Competition category) International Selection we’ve got Pablo Berger’s Blancanieves, Ursula Meier’s Sister, Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s Francine (which received its theatrical release earlier this month) and Rodrigo Plá’s La Demora. Loaded in Cannes items, the Special Presentations is the fest’s A-list selections (see filmmakers named above) and the one pic...
- 9/25/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Title: Francine Directors: Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky Starring: Melissa Leo, Keith Leonard, Victoria Chestnut, Dave Clark, Michael Halstead There’s a familiar saying that even a broken clock is right twice a day, which Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s assertively minimalist ”Francine” recalls. An emotionally impressionistic story of a recently paroled woman coping with life on the outside of prison, this character study feels like a less successful riff on Kelly Reichardt’s much more evocative “Wendy and Lucy” — caught up in its own metaphor, its blank canvas and broadly sketched melancholic tones an empty vessel for those who would like to automatically turn the personal into the political. There isn’t much [ Read More ]...
- 9/15/2012
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
In the last few years, Melissa Leo has played a woman driven by poverty to human smuggling in Courtney Hunt's "Frozen River," and claimed an Oscar for her turn as the chain-smoking boxing matriarch Alice Ward in David O. Russell's "The Fighter." On a recent episode of comedian Louis C.K.'s show "Louie," Leo appeared as the the tough-talking Laurie, who very nearly rapes Mr. C.K. in the cab of a parked truck. It seems fair to say that at 51, Leo -- who began her career in the 1980s with a recurring role on "All My Children" -- has developed a taste for grit. With the title role in "Francine," the first full length feature from documentarian duo Melanie Shatzky and Brian Cassidy, Leo returns once more to hardscrabble environs, as a newly-released convict. In contrast to Alice and Laurie, neither of whom ever suffered a moment's shyness,...
- 9/13/2012
- by Chris Pomorski
- Indiewire
Named one of Filmmaker magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” in 2007, New York–based co-conspirators Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy gravitated toward moving-image storytelling after earning master’s degrees in photography at the School of Visual Arts. Exploring the porous borders between narrative and nonfiction, while importing many of the techniques they’d learned as Mfa students in another visual discipline, Shatzky and Cassidy debuted two equally memorable, conspicuously stylized shorts that year, The Delaware Project (fiction) and God Provides (a nine-minute doc), which premiered at the Rotterdam and Sundance Film Festivals, respectively. In 2011, The Patron Saints, a six-years-in-the-making “hyperrealistic” feature documentary that peeks at life in a nursing home with curiosity, discomfiting candor, and eccentric flashes of dark humor, unspooled at Toronto and further aligned the husband-and-wife team with a heightened cinematic style that borrows something from portraitists-of-the-everyday Walker Evans and William Eggleston.
Continuing their exploration in...
Continuing their exploration in...
- 9/12/2012
- by Damon Smith
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Factory 25 has acquired North American rights to the Melissa Leo drama “Francine” and will co-release the film on VOD November 1. The Film Sales Company first opens the film theatrically at MoMa September 12, followed by other theatrical showings in the fall and a DVD release in the spring. “Francine” stars Oscar winner Leo (“The Fighter”) as a lonely woman who has difficulty adjusting to life in a small town once she’s released from prison after many years. Written and directed by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky, “Francine” has screened at the Berlin, SXSW and BAMcinemaFest festivals. Read More: Factory 25 Picks Up U.S. on Sophia Takal's SXSW Premiere 'Green' Joshua Blum and Katie Stern produced; Anna Gerb is executive producer. Matt Grady’s Brooklyn-based Factory 25 has recently released “The Color Wheel,” “The Oregonian,” “Wah Do Dem” and...
- 9/10/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- Indiewire
In Francine, Melissa Leo plays a woman leaving prison to return to society, dealing with mountains and molehills on the outside. From the look of the trailer, the Oscar winner has the weight of the world on her shoulders as the movie – the feature narrative debut of documentarians Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy – appears to be the cinematic equivalent of the photo on a driver’s license. It’s stark, raw and attentive to detail. It will have you aching for background music (or anything, anything at all) to take your attention away from the imagery. And what’s with the cats? Is her cat lady status profound or perplexing? How did a trailer featuring an actress rubbing cats on her face just make me want to see the film? Maybe it’s because she looks absolutely nothing like she did for her role in The Fighter. It’s transformative and proof of her amazing strength...
- 9/10/2012
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Factory 25 has acquired North American rights to Brian Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s Francine, a bold and mysterious drama starring Melissa Leo as a paroled convict who finds solace in caring for animals. The film premieres this week, on September 12, at MoMA in a theatrical release by The Film Sales Company, and it will continue to play across the country this fall. Factory 25 and The Film Sales Company will co-release the film on VOD and digitally beginning November 1. DVD and non-theatrical screenings will begin in Spring, 2013.
Francine premiered this year at the Berlin Film Festival, and it has since played numerous other festivals, including SXSW and BAMcinemafest. The directors were chosen for Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces in 2007, and this latest feature, their debut fiction film, extends their interest in found moments and performative behavior to the realm of drama.… Read the rest...
Francine premiered this year at the Berlin Film Festival, and it has since played numerous other festivals, including SXSW and BAMcinemafest. The directors were chosen for Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces in 2007, and this latest feature, their debut fiction film, extends their interest in found moments and performative behavior to the realm of drama.… Read the rest...
- 9/10/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
After getting a much-deserved Best Actress nomination for her role in the small-budget indie Frozen River, Melissa Leo is returning to similar ground with Francine, giving the actress a substantial lead character in a small scope atmosphere. Written and directed by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky, the drama premiered at Berlin and showed up at SXSW to solid reviews and now the trailer has arrived today.
While it looks a bit dour and spare, Leo is the key attraction here with what looks to be a powerful performance as a woman who just exited prison and is readjusting to life in a small town. As she is on the cusp of delivering major tentpoles with Olympus Has Fallen, Oblivion and even Flight, it’s nice that she can still sneak these sorts of projects in. Check out the trailer and poster below.
Synopsis:
After serving time in prison, Francine...
While it looks a bit dour and spare, Leo is the key attraction here with what looks to be a powerful performance as a woman who just exited prison and is readjusting to life in a small town. As she is on the cusp of delivering major tentpoles with Olympus Has Fallen, Oblivion and even Flight, it’s nice that she can still sneak these sorts of projects in. Check out the trailer and poster below.
Synopsis:
After serving time in prison, Francine...
- 9/7/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Here’s a first look at All Is Lost. Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions, Academy Award-winner Robert Redford, and Academy Award-nominated writer/director J.C. Chandor (Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Margin Call) jointly announced that principal photography has wrapped on the open water thriller All Is Lost at Baja Studios in Rosarito, Mexico. Chandor wrote and directed the film, and Redford stars in a solo performance of one man lost at sea and his battle against the elements to stay alive. Before The Door Pictures. Neal Dodson and Washington Square Films. Anna Gerb are producing.
“After an intense two months of shooting on the water, we.re headed home and have finished production on schedule,. said Dodson and Gerb. .Jc is making an audacious film with a brave performance at its center.”
The director of photography is Frankie DeMarco and the editor is Pete Beaudreau, both of whom collaborated with Chandor on Margin Call.
“After an intense two months of shooting on the water, we.re headed home and have finished production on schedule,. said Dodson and Gerb. .Jc is making an audacious film with a brave performance at its center.”
The director of photography is Frankie DeMarco and the editor is Pete Beaudreau, both of whom collaborated with Chandor on Margin Call.
- 8/8/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Today two recent festival favorites, Bob Byington’s Somebody Up There Likes Me and Brian Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s Francine, found distribution.
Somebody, which stars Parks and Recreation‘s Nick Offerman and former “25 New Face” Jess Weixler, premiered at SXSW earlier this year and has now been picked up by Tribeca Film, to be released in Spring 2013. The fifth feature from Byington (Harmony and Me, Rso [Registered Sex Offender]), it is about a trio of friends (Offerman, Weixler and regular Byington collaborator Keith Poulson) who waste their lives on meaningless relationships as time ebbs away. Geoff Gilmore, the former Sundance head who is now Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises, said of the movie, “Somebody Up There Likes Me displays all the quirkiness, personality, and distinction that defines independent filmmaking. Infused with a biting, dry sense of humor and filled with wonderful performances from a talented cast, Bob Byington’s latest film...
Somebody, which stars Parks and Recreation‘s Nick Offerman and former “25 New Face” Jess Weixler, premiered at SXSW earlier this year and has now been picked up by Tribeca Film, to be released in Spring 2013. The fifth feature from Byington (Harmony and Me, Rso [Registered Sex Offender]), it is about a trio of friends (Offerman, Weixler and regular Byington collaborator Keith Poulson) who waste their lives on meaningless relationships as time ebbs away. Geoff Gilmore, the former Sundance head who is now Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises, said of the movie, “Somebody Up There Likes Me displays all the quirkiness, personality, and distinction that defines independent filmmaking. Infused with a biting, dry sense of humor and filled with wonderful performances from a talented cast, Bob Byington’s latest film...
- 7/25/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Francine begins with Francine's last day in prison. It seems she has been locked away for a long time, though the crime she committed is left unspoken. Francine moves into a small cottage near the water and finds a series of jobs -- at a pet store, in the stables of a polo club, at a veterinarian's office... As Francine tepidly integrates herself back into society, she begins to develop friendships. This is the crux of Francine, a cinema verite portrayal of a woman struggling to become a member of the free world. As awesome as Leo's performance is, Francine's strength is in its uncanny sense of realism -- the real people, the real places, the real events. This is essentially a documentary from the perspective of a fictional character, which makes perfect sense because directors Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy come from a strictly documentary background.
- 5/27/2012
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Today the full lineup for BAMCinemafest has been unveiled, including the opening and closing night films. (The initial slate of titles was announced just over a month ago.) The fest will be bookended by comedian Mike Birbiglia’s Sundance charmer Sleepwalk with Me and Rock ‘n’ Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen, the latest doc from British musician and filmmaker Don Letts (Dancehall Queen).
The Spotlight screening is Benh Zeitlin’s Sundance Grand Prize winner Beasts of the Southern Wild, and other highlights out of the newly announced titles include the Ross brothers’ Tchoupitoulas, Cory McAbee’s Crazy and Thief and Tim Sutton’s Pavilion (all of which I’m very excited to catch up with.)
Speaking about the 2012 lineup, BAMcinématek’s program director Florence Almozini said, “I’m really excited about the fourth edition of BAMcinemaFest as it may be our best yet. I think we’re refining...
The Spotlight screening is Benh Zeitlin’s Sundance Grand Prize winner Beasts of the Southern Wild, and other highlights out of the newly announced titles include the Ross brothers’ Tchoupitoulas, Cory McAbee’s Crazy and Thief and Tim Sutton’s Pavilion (all of which I’m very excited to catch up with.)
Speaking about the 2012 lineup, BAMcinématek’s program director Florence Almozini said, “I’m really excited about the fourth edition of BAMcinemaFest as it may be our best yet. I think we’re refining...
- 5/3/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Today the BAMcinemaFest unveiled a selection of the films that will play at Brooklyn’s Bam between June 20 and July 1. The slate is dominated by titles that premiered in at Sundance, although there are also films here that bowed at Toronto and Cannes last year. The vast majority of the films announced here are also made by New Yorkers — many of them Brooklynites — while Brian M. Cassidy & Melanie Shatzky (named in our 25 New Faces back in 2007) enjoy the rare coup of having two films in the fest: the narrative Francine and the doc The Patron Saints.
Two films worth flagging up are Dan Sallitt’s The Unspeakable Act and Jonathan Caouette’s Walk Away Renée. A film critic who has made two previous features, Sallitt (who lives a stone’s throw from Bam) will debut his bold and surprising portrait of an unconventional brother-sister relationship at next month’s Sarasota...
Two films worth flagging up are Dan Sallitt’s The Unspeakable Act and Jonathan Caouette’s Walk Away Renée. A film critic who has made two previous features, Sallitt (who lives a stone’s throw from Bam) will debut his bold and surprising portrait of an unconventional brother-sister relationship at next month’s Sarasota...
- 3/29/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Francine, the debut feature from co-directors Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky had it’s first Sx screening yesterday having recently garnered some great reviews coming out of this years Berlinale. The filmmakers along with their star Melissa Leo, were kind enough to sit down with us before the screening to to talk a little about the film ahead of it’s North American Premiere.
So your film is screening in a couple of hours. I look forward to seeing it with an audience. Can you tell us a little about your picture?
Melanie Shatzky: Well the film is about a woman who has been incarcerated for a chunk of her life. She’s just been released from prison and is trying to readjust to life in the free word. She has a hard time connecting with people and instead finds solace in animals.
And that’s about all...
So your film is screening in a couple of hours. I look forward to seeing it with an audience. Can you tell us a little about your picture?
Melanie Shatzky: Well the film is about a woman who has been incarcerated for a chunk of her life. She’s just been released from prison and is trying to readjust to life in the free word. She has a hard time connecting with people and instead finds solace in animals.
And that’s about all...
- 3/13/2012
- by Scott Colquitt
- SoundOnSight
The following is a reprint of our review from the Berlin Film Festival 2012.
Evoking films like "Winter's Bone" and "Wendy and Lucy" in presenting a sparse, narrowly focused portrait of a lone female protagonist in adverse, not to say desperate circumstances, "Francine" is the kind of small film made for the festival circuit, and for which the festival circuit was made. It is no less reliant on a powerhouse central performance than its aforementioned forebears, if anything more so, as here extraneous detail is pared back almost to the point of nonexistence, leaving Melissa Leo front and center of every scene. It is a testament to her absolutely definitive portrayal that one simply cannot imagine what the film might have looked like with anyone else in the role. Some elegant framing and photography aside, the film lives and dies on her performance, and this being Leo, at her most vanity-less and instinctive,...
Evoking films like "Winter's Bone" and "Wendy and Lucy" in presenting a sparse, narrowly focused portrait of a lone female protagonist in adverse, not to say desperate circumstances, "Francine" is the kind of small film made for the festival circuit, and for which the festival circuit was made. It is no less reliant on a powerhouse central performance than its aforementioned forebears, if anything more so, as here extraneous detail is pared back almost to the point of nonexistence, leaving Melissa Leo front and center of every scene. It is a testament to her absolutely definitive portrayal that one simply cannot imagine what the film might have looked like with anyone else in the role. Some elegant framing and photography aside, the film lives and dies on her performance, and this being Leo, at her most vanity-less and instinctive,...
- 3/11/2012
- by Jessica Kiang
- The Playlist
Insiders at the SXSW Film Festival can connect daily with filmmakers and stars in Austin at our afternoon talk series beginning this Monday. Over four days from 2Pm to 3Pm, SXSW pass holders attending the festival (filmmakers, industry and press, or whoever has something around their neck looking official) can settle down to watch the talks and ask questions to the talent. This year guests include, all the filmmakers behind the foud-footage horror film "V/H/S"; actor-turned-filmmaker Matthew Lillard ("The Descendants"); "Casa de mi Padre" director Matt Piedmont; and four music documentary filmmakers. 'Go Behind the Scenes With Indiewire at the Next Stage,' runs March 12-15 on the Next Stage in the SXSW Trade Show. Go Here for additional venue information. The schedule follows: March 12 2Pm-2:30Pm: David and Nathan Zellner ("Kid Thing") / Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzsky ("Francine") ...
- 3/10/2012
- by Nigel M Smith
- Indiewire
Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky's Francine, starring Melissa Leo, will have its North American premiere Sunday at 1:30 pm at the Alamo Lamar B theater. The SXSW Emerging Visions feature first screened at the Berlin film festival in February. Photos: 7 Hot Films to Watch at Berlin Film Festival 2012 The Hollywood Reporter here hosts an exclusive clip from the film. Photos: 28 of Berlin Film Festival's Most Outrageous Movie Posters Leo, who will be in Austin during the fest, stars as a woman trying to rebuild her life in a rundown lakeside town after being released from prison. Keith Leonard
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- 3/9/2012
- by Jay Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Directors Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky are bringing their drama "Francine" starring Melissa Leo to this year's SXSW Festival. The directors think audiences will come out of their film with questions about what they have seen. They come to the festival hoping to get a U.S. distribution deal for the film, more festival invitations and "maybe a hat." What It's About: Academy Award winner Melissa Leo gives a fierce and restrained performance as Francine, a woman struggling to find her place in a downtrodden lakeside town after leaving behind a life in prison. Taking a series of jobs working with animals, Francine turns away those who take an interest in her and instead seeks intimacy in the most unlikely of places. Gritty, elliptical, and voyeuristic, Francine is a portrait of a near-silent misfit and her fragile first steps in an unfamiliar world. The Directors Say: "We started as...
- 3/8/2012
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
We made it to Berlin and back in one piece. Melanie and I were at the Berlinale for the world premiere of Francine, our first narrative feature starring Melissa Leo. We couldn’t have possibly predicted the response to the film, which has been overwhelmingly positive. Francine showed in the festival’s Forum section, and sold out all four of its screenings before we even premiered. Melissa made the trip out to Berlin, and we were fortunate enough to have had several lively and very engaged Q&A sessions. Seeing the film together for the first time with an audience, especially after a very intense period of shooting, was gratifying beyond words. We want to thank Ifp & Filmmaker Magazine for allowing us this space to share some of our festival experiences as well as inviting us to speak on the New Talents, New Trends panel alongside Producer Mike S. Ryan...
- 2/21/2012
- by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Melissa Leo is the eponymous anti-hero in this disarming look at North America’s dispossessed.
Written by Georgie Hobbs
Francine’s first shot shows Leo stark naked, showering in prison. It’s her last day in detention before she’s released back into the world. It’s a staggeringly brave image – in a film which offers a series of arresting, unexpected images – and one that most actresses over 50 wouldn’t consider, especially those coming off an Oscar high. Like that shower shot of Carey Mulligan in Shame, we’re shown what award-winning actresses tend to hide; slouchy paunch, ratty (body) hair, slumped shoulders.
We then follow a wordless Francine as she moves into a tiny bungalow overlooking a picturesque lake in the Hudson Valley. It’s not made clear what she did to get locked away, or how long was gone, just that she’s emerged a loner who only finds solace in animals.
Written by Georgie Hobbs
Francine’s first shot shows Leo stark naked, showering in prison. It’s her last day in detention before she’s released back into the world. It’s a staggeringly brave image – in a film which offers a series of arresting, unexpected images – and one that most actresses over 50 wouldn’t consider, especially those coming off an Oscar high. Like that shower shot of Carey Mulligan in Shame, we’re shown what award-winning actresses tend to hide; slouchy paunch, ratty (body) hair, slumped shoulders.
We then follow a wordless Francine as she moves into a tiny bungalow overlooking a picturesque lake in the Hudson Valley. It’s not made clear what she did to get locked away, or how long was gone, just that she’s emerged a loner who only finds solace in animals.
- 2/20/2012
- by Guest
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Getty Melissa Leo at the 2012 Sunday Film Festival
Melissa Leo won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “The Fighter,” mother and manager to two New England boxers. But in her new film “Francine,”—which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and will soon be at South By Southwest, the 51-year-old is the passive character being manipulated: a weary, bleary-eyed lost soul who is released from prison into a world so vast and unstructured, it traps her far more than her regimented life behind bars.
Melissa Leo won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “The Fighter,” mother and manager to two New England boxers. But in her new film “Francine,”—which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and will soon be at South By Southwest, the 51-year-old is the passive character being manipulated: a weary, bleary-eyed lost soul who is released from prison into a world so vast and unstructured, it traps her far more than her regimented life behind bars.
- 2/17/2012
- by Mary M. Lane
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
In the opening minutes of "Francine," Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky's narrative feature debut, Melissa Leo stands naked in a prison shower, more exposed than she has ever looked onscreen. Her fragile, desperate state lingers as the character copes with life post parole. She defines the otherworldly tone, but the directors fail to build on it. While "Francine" distinguishes itself with atmospheric strangeness, Cassidy and Shatzky never create a satisfying whole. In the ensuing 74 minutes, Leo's Francine wanders a desolate countryside town, freed from jail under mysterious circumstances. The reason for her incarceration never revealed, "Francine" uses the past incident to fuel its solemn protagonist's listless journey for a meaning in life. Initially employed by a pet store, the job culminates with her abrupt decision to jack a puppy and head back to her dilapidated home, where her pet menagerie slowly builds until her...
- 2/16/2012
- Indiewire
David Rooney’s Hollywood Reporter review of Brian Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s tough, piercing American independent character drama Francine, which premiered this week in Berlin, is masterful. As noted also by Jeffrey Wells, Rooney approaches the film on its own terms, and distills in his prose strengths that would be ignored or misconstrued by another critic.
From the review:
A minimalist, image-based character study that is almost impossibly fragile and yet emotionally robust, Francine is a legitimate discovery. It’s propelled by Melissa Leo’s remarkable title-role performance, rigorous in its honesty and unimpeded by even a scrap of vanity. Made on a shoestring, this first narrative feature from husband-and-wife filmmaking team Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky is raw, intimate and observed with penetrating acuity.
The austere approach and stark naturalism invite comparison with the work of Kelly Reichardt, and the subject specifically recalls Wendy and Lucy. (Producers...
From the review:
A minimalist, image-based character study that is almost impossibly fragile and yet emotionally robust, Francine is a legitimate discovery. It’s propelled by Melissa Leo’s remarkable title-role performance, rigorous in its honesty and unimpeded by even a scrap of vanity. Made on a shoestring, this first narrative feature from husband-and-wife filmmaking team Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky is raw, intimate and observed with penetrating acuity.
The austere approach and stark naturalism invite comparison with the work of Kelly Reichardt, and the subject specifically recalls Wendy and Lucy. (Producers...
- 2/15/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
In "Francine," Melissa Leo offers her first lead performance since winning an Oscar last February for "The Fighter." Quietly striking, the film gives Leo quite a bit to work with. As a troubled, unbalanced woman recently released from prison, her titular Francine copes with her demons through forming unhealthy bonds with a group of cats and dogs she starts collecting from around her rural home (and stealing from her workplace at a pet store). Premiering in the Forum section at the Berlin International Film Festival this week, the film also marks the directorial debut of Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky. "Brian and I have always been interested in stories about desperation and people's sense of desperation -- women in particular," Shatzky told Indiewire. "We wanted to create a story about this women who finds family in these animals. She has the best of intentions, but she's clearly a flawed person.
- 2/15/2012
- Indiewire
As we roll into Berlin where War Witch (aka Rebelle) (Isa: Films Distribution) by Kim Nguyen is in Competition. While it’s Kim’s 4th feature, this is the first of his films to have a world premiere at an international festival. This is exceptional as well because the last time the Canadians had a Canadian director in Competition at the Berlinale was in 1999 with Emporte-Moi ! Guy Madden’s Keyhole holds a Berlinale Special slot. Guy is Canada’s cultural ambassador in Berlin and a regular at the Festival and sat on the Berlinale’s Official Jury last year – with Isabella Rossellini.
Sheldon Larry’s Leave It on the Floor (Isa: Arrow) is a U.S.-Canadian Co-pro which has played Laff, Tiff and is now in the Panorama.
Films in the Forum include Green Laser by another Berlinale favorite, John Greyson. Green Laser is his 8th film at the festival. His first was Urinal in 1989. Denis Côté’s Bestiary, straight from Sundance, and Francine, the first narrative feature by Melanie Shatzky (Canada) and Brian M. Cassidy (U.S.) the team that directed Patron Saints (Tiff 2011, Rotterdam 2012) are are all in the Forum.
4 films are in the Forum Expanded:
Chris Kennedy’s 349 (For Sol LeWitt)(1min long!) in Tiff 2011 Wavelength Program: Schedule
American Colour, Tiff 2011 Wavelength Program: Schedule
Road Movie by Elle Flanders and Tamira Sawatzkystarring Melissa Leo (Frozen River) Tiff 2011 Future Projections: Schedule, a 6-channel installation produced by The National Film Board of Canada. Elle Flanders’ documentary Zero Degrees of Separation was screened in the Forum section of the Berlin Festival in 2005.
The Tiny Ventriloquist by Steve Reinke, (with contribution from James Richards). The installation will be presented at the McLuhan Salon of the Canadian Embassy
In Berlinale Shorts Competition, The Man That Got Away by Trevor Anderson is his second film in this section (2009 The Island). His doc short The High Leve Bridge was in Sundance in 2010.
All we have to do now is wait to see which prizes go to them! Last year Canadian productions came away with three.
Perspective Canada will present 16 titles at the Market:
Café de Flore - Jean-Marc Vallée, Films Distribution, France
China Heavyweight (Straight from Sundance) - doc - Yung Chang Cat & Docs, France & EyeSteelFilms
Décharge (Trash) - Benoit Pilon, eOne
Edwin Boyd - Nathan Morlando, Myriad Pictures, USA
French Kiss - Sylvain Archambault ,Delphis
Goon - Michael Dowse, Myriad Pictures, USA
La Peur de l'eau - Gabriel Pelletier, eOne
Marécages - Guy Édoin, Fortissimo Films
Monsieur Lazhar - Philippe Falardeau, Films Distribution, France
Nuit #1 - Anne Émond, Wide Management, France
Payback (Straight from Sundance) - doc- Jennifer Baichwal, National Film Board of Canada
Pink Ribbons - doc - Léa Pool, National Film Board of Canada
Pour l'amour de dieu - Micheline Lanctôt, Filmoption
Roméo onze - Ivan Grbovic, Reprise Films
Surviving Progress - doc- Mathieu Roy + Harold Crooks, National Film Board of Canada
Take this Waltz - Sarah Polley, TF1 International, France...
Sheldon Larry’s Leave It on the Floor (Isa: Arrow) is a U.S.-Canadian Co-pro which has played Laff, Tiff and is now in the Panorama.
Films in the Forum include Green Laser by another Berlinale favorite, John Greyson. Green Laser is his 8th film at the festival. His first was Urinal in 1989. Denis Côté’s Bestiary, straight from Sundance, and Francine, the first narrative feature by Melanie Shatzky (Canada) and Brian M. Cassidy (U.S.) the team that directed Patron Saints (Tiff 2011, Rotterdam 2012) are are all in the Forum.
4 films are in the Forum Expanded:
Chris Kennedy’s 349 (For Sol LeWitt)(1min long!) in Tiff 2011 Wavelength Program: Schedule
American Colour, Tiff 2011 Wavelength Program: Schedule
Road Movie by Elle Flanders and Tamira Sawatzkystarring Melissa Leo (Frozen River) Tiff 2011 Future Projections: Schedule, a 6-channel installation produced by The National Film Board of Canada. Elle Flanders’ documentary Zero Degrees of Separation was screened in the Forum section of the Berlin Festival in 2005.
The Tiny Ventriloquist by Steve Reinke, (with contribution from James Richards). The installation will be presented at the McLuhan Salon of the Canadian Embassy
In Berlinale Shorts Competition, The Man That Got Away by Trevor Anderson is his second film in this section (2009 The Island). His doc short The High Leve Bridge was in Sundance in 2010.
All we have to do now is wait to see which prizes go to them! Last year Canadian productions came away with three.
Perspective Canada will present 16 titles at the Market:
Café de Flore - Jean-Marc Vallée, Films Distribution, France
China Heavyweight (Straight from Sundance) - doc - Yung Chang Cat & Docs, France & EyeSteelFilms
Décharge (Trash) - Benoit Pilon, eOne
Edwin Boyd - Nathan Morlando, Myriad Pictures, USA
French Kiss - Sylvain Archambault ,Delphis
Goon - Michael Dowse, Myriad Pictures, USA
La Peur de l'eau - Gabriel Pelletier, eOne
Marécages - Guy Édoin, Fortissimo Films
Monsieur Lazhar - Philippe Falardeau, Films Distribution, France
Nuit #1 - Anne Émond, Wide Management, France
Payback (Straight from Sundance) - doc- Jennifer Baichwal, National Film Board of Canada
Pink Ribbons - doc - Léa Pool, National Film Board of Canada
Pour l'amour de dieu - Micheline Lanctôt, Filmoption
Roméo onze - Ivan Grbovic, Reprise Films
Surviving Progress - doc- Mathieu Roy + Harold Crooks, National Film Board of Canada
Take this Waltz - Sarah Polley, TF1 International, France...
- 2/11/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Melissa Leo's "Francine," from directors Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky, will premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 13. Check out the new poster for the American-Canadian co-production. Leo stars as woman regaining her foothold in society after being released from prison. The security of temporary jobs proves just as elusive as the relationships she tries to build with the people in her new-found small town in North America. Her failure with human connection leads her to seek support from animals, with tragic consequences. More on this first feature narrative from Cassidy and Shatzky below (their doc "The Patron Saints" played Toronto 2011 and...
- 2/9/2012
- Thompson on Hollywood
Sound On Sight will once again be covering the SXSW Film Festival this year, making it our second time attending. 130 feature films will screen at the Austin, Texas fest taking place March 9-17, including 65 World Premieres, 17 North American Premieres and 10 U.S. Premieres. As previously announced, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods will have the honours of opening the festival, and now they have released the full list of films – and it’s looking pretty amazing. Enjoy!
Narrative Feature Competition
This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are:
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin
When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.
Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths,...
Narrative Feature Competition
This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are:
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin
When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.
Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths,...
- 2/3/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
We've been raving about this pair of filmmakers since we caught their candid, visual essay The Patron Saints at Tiff last year, and now we've got a pair of stills from Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky's feature film debut, which is set to showcase at the 2012 edition of the Berlin Film Festival. Featuring Melissa Leo in what we imagine is an atypical role for the actress, Francine (#23 in our Most Anticipated Films list for 2012) will have its U.S premiere at SXSW next March in the Emerging Visions section. This is about a woman struggling to find her place in a downtrodden lakeside town after leaving behind a life in prison. Taking a series of jobs working with animals, Francine turns away those who take an interest in her and instead seeks intimacy in the most unlikely of places.
- 2/2/2012
- IONCINEMA.com
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