Last month, this writer had the opportunity to check out a pair of films that screened as part of the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City. Here are my thoughts on the Bigfoot-centric documentary Big Fur as well as the experimental film Majnuni from directors Kouros Alaghband and Drew Hoffman.
Big Fur: In Big Fur, we’re introduced to Ken Walker, who is a taxidermist living in Canada with an extreme passion for the off-beat art form, which makes him a bit of an odd duck. But the thing is, Ken is one of the best in the game, and he has numerous awards and a ton of prestigious projects to prove just how skilled he is with rebuilding all types of wildlife. Beyond his proclivity for crafting taxidermy projects, Ken is also an avid believer in the legend of Bigfoot, to the point where he’s even hoarding baggies...
Big Fur: In Big Fur, we’re introduced to Ken Walker, who is a taxidermist living in Canada with an extreme passion for the off-beat art form, which makes him a bit of an odd duck. But the thing is, Ken is one of the best in the game, and he has numerous awards and a ton of prestigious projects to prove just how skilled he is with rebuilding all types of wildlife. Beyond his proclivity for crafting taxidermy projects, Ken is also an avid believer in the legend of Bigfoot, to the point where he’s even hoarding baggies...
- 2/10/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Taking place alongside Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Slamdance Film Festival is also a thrilling place for discovery of new talent, having featured work from the likes of Bong Joon Ho, the Safdies, Steven Soderbergh, Ari Aster, Jeremy Saulnier, Sean Baker, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ana Lily Amirpour, Christopher Nolan, and more. As we look towards this year’s 26th edition, one of the titles on our radar is Majnuni, directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Kouros Alaghband, who was mentored by Béla Tarr and the film came out of his unique film school.
Set during the night within a war-torn Sarajevo, the enigmatic feature debut follows a man who stalks a broken family on a path to his old love. “Dreamlike and haunting, Majnuni periodically reminds me of Holy Motors by Leos Carax. It is intriguing, provocative, and beautiful as well as puzzling,” said Jonathan Rosenbaum.
“I met my lead actor,...
Set during the night within a war-torn Sarajevo, the enigmatic feature debut follows a man who stalks a broken family on a path to his old love. “Dreamlike and haunting, Majnuni periodically reminds me of Holy Motors by Leos Carax. It is intriguing, provocative, and beautiful as well as puzzling,” said Jonathan Rosenbaum.
“I met my lead actor,...
- 1/23/2020
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
The 26th edition of the Slamdance Film Festival has set its slate for the films in the Narrative and Documentary Feature Film Competition programs as well as the lineup for their Breakouts section. The fest will take place in Park City, Utah January 24-30, 2020.
As the fest “by filmmakers, for filmmakers,” this year’s Slamdance will feature 16 premieres, including 10 world premieres with films from United States, Belarus, Canada Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa. The films in competition are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are also eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year,...
As the fest “by filmmakers, for filmmakers,” this year’s Slamdance will feature 16 premieres, including 10 world premieres with films from United States, Belarus, Canada Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa. The films in competition are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are also eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year,...
- 12/2/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Slamdance Film Festival unveiled its 2020 lineup of microbudget films Monday that will premiere at the Sundance alternative, among of which include projects about Chernobyl, a brainwashing camp, drag queens and a taxidermist looking for Bigfoot.
All films in competition during its weeklong celebration in Park City from Jan. 24-30 have no U.S. distribution and a budget of under $1 million. Films from 10 countries will participate: U.S., Belarus, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year, our artist-led organization brings a lineup full of wonderful risk taking and unique storytelling. That’s the spirit of Slamdance 2020.”
Also Read: 'High Flying Bird' Film Review: Steven Soderbergh...
All films in competition during its weeklong celebration in Park City from Jan. 24-30 have no U.S. distribution and a budget of under $1 million. Films from 10 countries will participate: U.S., Belarus, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year, our artist-led organization brings a lineup full of wonderful risk taking and unique storytelling. That’s the spirit of Slamdance 2020.”
Also Read: 'High Flying Bird' Film Review: Steven Soderbergh...
- 12/2/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Slamdance Film Festival has unveiled its 26th anniversary narrative and documentary feature film competition programs, as well as the lineup for its new breakouts section.
The narrative lineup includes director Heather Young’s drama “Murmur.” The movie, which won the Fipresci Discovery Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Shan MacDonald as an older woman who, while performing community service at an animal shelter, begins compulsively adopting pets to ease her loneliness.
The festival, launched in 1995 as an alternative to Sundance, has included showings of such notable titles as Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity.” The fest, which takes place at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 24 to Jan. 30, will screen 23 movies including 10 world premieres, five North American premieres, and one U.S. premiere.
Slamdance alumni include Joe and Anthony Russo, Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, Lena Dunham, Benh Zeitlin, Seth Gordon, and Lynn Shelton.
The narrative lineup includes director Heather Young’s drama “Murmur.” The movie, which won the Fipresci Discovery Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Shan MacDonald as an older woman who, while performing community service at an animal shelter, begins compulsively adopting pets to ease her loneliness.
The festival, launched in 1995 as an alternative to Sundance, has included showings of such notable titles as Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity.” The fest, which takes place at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 24 to Jan. 30, will screen 23 movies including 10 world premieres, five North American premieres, and one U.S. premiere.
Slamdance alumni include Joe and Anthony Russo, Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, Lena Dunham, Benh Zeitlin, Seth Gordon, and Lynn Shelton.
- 12/2/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Selectors considered record 8,231 submissions.
New work from Uruguay, Japan and South Africa are among the 20-strong Slamdance Film Festival feature film competition line-up unveiled on Monday (December 2) alongside the second Breakouts selection.
The 26th edition of the Park City, Utah, festival runs from January 24-30 and across all sections includes 16 premieres, including 10 world, 5 North American, and one Us berths. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets under $1m and without Us distribution. All are eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award, the latter of which is voted upon by filmmakers at the festival.
“Slamdance is...
New work from Uruguay, Japan and South Africa are among the 20-strong Slamdance Film Festival feature film competition line-up unveiled on Monday (December 2) alongside the second Breakouts selection.
The 26th edition of the Park City, Utah, festival runs from January 24-30 and across all sections includes 16 premieres, including 10 world, 5 North American, and one Us berths. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets under $1m and without Us distribution. All are eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award, the latter of which is voted upon by filmmakers at the festival.
“Slamdance is...
- 12/2/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Industry strand crowns co-pro market, work-in-progress winners.
CineLink, the industry side of the Sarajevo Film Festival, has crowned its winners for the 2018 edition.
In the co-production market, the Eurimages Coproduction Development Award of €20,000 went to Juraj Lerotić’s Safe Place. The Croatia-Slovenia drama from Propeler Film and Staragara takes place in 24 hours and focuses on a family trying to save one of its members from themselves.
The Film Centre Montenegro Cinelink Award of €10,000 went to Gentian Koçi’s A Cup Of Coffee And New Shoes On, which is from Albania-Greece and focuses on two identical twins in their 40s who discover that,...
CineLink, the industry side of the Sarajevo Film Festival, has crowned its winners for the 2018 edition.
In the co-production market, the Eurimages Coproduction Development Award of €20,000 went to Juraj Lerotić’s Safe Place. The Croatia-Slovenia drama from Propeler Film and Staragara takes place in 24 hours and focuses on a family trying to save one of its members from themselves.
The Film Centre Montenegro Cinelink Award of €10,000 went to Gentian Koçi’s A Cup Of Coffee And New Shoes On, which is from Albania-Greece and focuses on two identical twins in their 40s who discover that,...
- 8/17/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress -- at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite. In the meantime: is this a movie you'd want to see? Tell us in the comments. Wiglum Tweetable Logline: At his local supermarket salad bar, Wiglum witnesses the ridiculous routine of human life in mindless motion -- and it has taken its toll. Elevator Pitch: Our main actor is from "There Will Be Blood" and "American Beauty"; our stylistic influences are David Lynch, PTA, & Bela Tarr. "Wiglum" tip-toes 'fever-dream' and 'madcap black-comedy' through the banal gaze of a microscope. Our cinematographer had a Sundance feature titled "The Woman." Much of the compositions pack a bizarre sober punch that capture an alien energy "Wiglum" senses in these seemingly mundane moments and spaces. Production Team: Story, Writer, Director, Editor, Producer - Kouros Alaghband Writer,...
- 3/16/2015
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
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