Authors — Jason Guerrasio

FILM FINANCING TOWNHALL

The Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) have announced another of their popular networking events for next Monday, Nov. 17. Information on how to attend and who’s scheduled to speak are below. IIFF New York City Townhall Meeting Monday, November 17, 2008 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM School of Visual Arts (SVA) 209 East 23rd Street Amphitheater – 3rd floor New York, NY 10010 VERY LIMITED CAPACITY. To avoid disappointment, reserve your DISCOUNTED SEAT now at http://nym.filmfinancing.org/111708w Next Monday’s gathering of FILMMAKERS AND FINANCIERS follows IIFF’sproven formula for film financing success. It features a powerful lineup ofLEADING TOPICAL EXPERTS whose […]
by Jason Guerrasio on Nov 11, 2008
“LIBERTY KID”

An intimate portrait of a pair of friends’ struggle to get by in a post-9/11 New York, Ilya Chaiken‘s sophomore effort (her previous feature was Margarita Happy Hour) has an authentic feel of urban life and an impressive story arch that surpasses its low-budget expectations. The film opens with Derrick (Al Thompson) and Tico (Kareem Saviñon) working on Liberty Island during the day and partying up at night. Though Derrick is more goal oriented than Tico, they both are stuck in the same rut when the Towers come down as they lose their jobs and struggle to find work. Though […]
by Jason Guerrasio on Nov 10, 2008
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES NHK FINALISTS

The Sundance Institute and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) have announced the twelve finalists for the 2009 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards. The annual cash award to support new artists in international cinema (winners announced at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival) is celebrating its 13th year with an impressive list of past recipients including: Alex Rivera (The Sleep Dealer), Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know) and Walter Salles (Central Station). The twelve finalists for the 2009 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards are: EUROPE Celia Galán Julve / ROSITA GUZMÁN IS ALIVE (Spain) – When dangerous fugitive Rosita Guzmán disappears into […]
by Jason Guerrasio on Nov 7, 2008
Director Darren Lynn Bousman on Repo! The Genetic Opera

Back in 2004, director Darren Lynn Bousman was taking his violent horror script The Desperate to a number of studios, only to be told it was too grisly for mainstream viewers. Enter Saw creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell, who loved The Desperate and immediately contacted Bousman about reworking the script into a sequel to their Saw franchise. This began a partnership that saw Bousman direct three successful Saw films in a row. Taking a break from the infamous horror series, Bousman returns with a long gestating labor of love: Repo! The Genetic Opera, a futuristic horror musical based on […]
by Jason Guerrasio on Nov 6, 2008
ENJOY FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR

To better cover the festial circuit we’ve created a sidebar in our Festival Coverage section called Festival Ambassador. There you’ll be able to get not only our take on the festivals we attend but news and notes on fests from around the world as well as deadline alerts and video shorts. Up now is Justin Lowe‘s first post from AFI and stay tuned for more to come.
by Jason Guerrasio on Nov 4, 2008
SPC GETS SOUL POWER

Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they’ve acquired Jeffrey Levy-Hinte‘s doc Soul Power. Having gotten great reviews at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, I had the privileged of seeing the film at a private screening a few weeks ago and if you’re a fan of R&B of the ’70s and documentaries like Michael Wadleigh‘s Woodstock and Leon Gast‘s When We Were Kings (which Levy-Hinte was an editor on and where the Soul Power footage originated from) then go see this movie. Highlighting the music festival to coincide with the Muhammad Ali-George Foreman “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire in 1974, […]
by Jason Guerrasio on Nov 4, 2008
GET YOUR POPCORN READY (EARLY)

Hopefully you went to the polls this morning because according to The New York Times, who has mapped out your whole Election Night here, networks could be jumping the gun to call the race as early as 8pm(!) Eastern time. An excerpt from the piece: A senior vice president of CBS News, Paul Friedman, said the prospects for Barack Obama or John McCain meeting the minimum threshold of electoral votes could be clear as soon as 8 p.m. — before polls in even New York and Rhode Island close, let alone those in Texas and California. At such a moment, […]
by Jason Guerrasio on Nov 4, 2008
SHORTSNONSTOP AWARDS BAD HEAD DAY

The Canadian Film Centre and SHORTSNONSTOP Mobile Festival announced this week that this quarter’s best short film is Mexican filmmaker Karen Weiss‘s Bad Head Day. Weiss will be awarded a $1500 cash prize. Launched in 2007, SHORTSNONSTOP is in its second year and awards a $1500 cash prize each quarter to the best short film selected by an international jury. Learn more on how to submit your film, here. Next deadline is Jan. 15. Weiss’s Bad Head Day can be found here.
by Jason Guerrasio on Oct 31, 2008
TOURIN’ WITH RANGELIFE

You may recall Scott’s “Midwestern Rhapsody” post in mid Oct. about Todd Sklar and the other filmmakers who are doing a DIY tour with their film. Here’s another video diary from the guys.
by Jason Guerrasio on Oct 30, 2008
AASIF MANDVI TO HOST GOTHAMS

IFP announced today that The Daily Show With Jon Stewart‘s correspondent Aasif Mandvi will be hosting this year’s Gotham Independent Film Awards on Dec. 2. Named one of our 25 New Faces of Independent Film this year for his upcoming project, 7 to the Palace, which he stars and co-wrote, Mandvi was recently in the Ricky Gervais-starrer Ghost Town and appeared in episodes of The Sopranos and Sex and the City. But he’s best known for his witty fake reporting on The Daily Show and will certainly have a lot of material to play with come Dec. 2. Interesting sidenote: […]
by Jason Guerrasio on Oct 30, 2008

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