Oh Them Silly Unicorns: Meyerhoff’s Coming of Age Debut Prizes Style Over Substance
Director Leah Meyerhoff most effectively conveys the nature of her debut film, I Believe In Unicorns, in its opening credits, which features a host of (mostly feminine) childhood fantasies revolving around celebratory effects, such as sparklies, cakes, and (yes) unicorns, all eventually melting down into smeared goo. Memories and dreams evaporate into the mess of reality, it seems to say, and we’re thrust into the late adolescence of a protagonist who, on the cusp of adulthood, seems to be getting her first taste of that. Skirting between vaguely morbid instances and sometimes carefree tempos, Meyerhoff’s narrative seems to lose focus, petering out into a gasp of profundity that would have felt much stronger had it been preceded by more remarkable characterization.
A sheltered, lonely young woman, Davina (Natalia Dyer) is forced to take care of her sickly mother.
Director Leah Meyerhoff most effectively conveys the nature of her debut film, I Believe In Unicorns, in its opening credits, which features a host of (mostly feminine) childhood fantasies revolving around celebratory effects, such as sparklies, cakes, and (yes) unicorns, all eventually melting down into smeared goo. Memories and dreams evaporate into the mess of reality, it seems to say, and we’re thrust into the late adolescence of a protagonist who, on the cusp of adulthood, seems to be getting her first taste of that. Skirting between vaguely morbid instances and sometimes carefree tempos, Meyerhoff’s narrative seems to lose focus, petering out into a gasp of profundity that would have felt much stronger had it been preceded by more remarkable characterization.
A sheltered, lonely young woman, Davina (Natalia Dyer) is forced to take care of her sickly mother.
- 5/25/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Perla Haney-Jardine has been cast as Steve Jobs's daughter in Danny Boyle's biopic.
The up-and-coming actress will play Lisa Jobs in the Aaron Sorkin-written Universal Pictures film.
The Apple co-founder initially denied paternity of Lisa before acknowledging her as his daughter in her teens.
Michael Fassbender is attached to play Jobs with Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak.
Michael Stuhlbarg, Kate Winslet and Jeff Daniels will also feature in the movie.
Lisa Jobs was not part of Walter Isaacson's book - on which the film is based - but was interviewed by Sorkin last year in preparation for the film.
Haney-Jardine featured in Spider-Man 3, Kill Bill Vol 2 and 2012 indie drama Future Weather.
Natalie Portman was previously reported to be in line for the role of Lisa Jobs.
The up-and-coming actress will play Lisa Jobs in the Aaron Sorkin-written Universal Pictures film.
The Apple co-founder initially denied paternity of Lisa before acknowledging her as his daughter in her teens.
Michael Fassbender is attached to play Jobs with Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak.
Michael Stuhlbarg, Kate Winslet and Jeff Daniels will also feature in the movie.
Lisa Jobs was not part of Walter Isaacson's book - on which the film is based - but was interviewed by Sorkin last year in preparation for the film.
Haney-Jardine featured in Spider-Man 3, Kill Bill Vol 2 and 2012 indie drama Future Weather.
Natalie Portman was previously reported to be in line for the role of Lisa Jobs.
- 1/6/2015
- Digital Spy
Exclusive: The Book Thief star Nelisse to lead cast, April 9 start of shoot.
Rising star Sophie Nelisse (The Book Thief, Monsieur Lazhar) is to play the title role in director Stephen Herek’s feature The Great Gilly Hopkins, alongside Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Danny Glover and Octavia Spencer.
Co-financed by William Kay and Peyton Kay of Gemmill Media (Rob the Mob, Future Weather) in association with William Teitler, the film is due to start shoot on April 9.
WestEnd Films is representing the film for international sales at the Efm while Bob Berney will be distributing in North America through his newly re-vamped Picturehouse.
Gilly is David Paterson’s adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s young adult novel about a wisecracking, gum-chewing 12-year old (Nelisse) who is moved from foster home to foster home, outwitting them all, until she meets her match in the shape of Maime Trotter (Bates).
Paterson will produce alongside Teitler and John Paterson. Executive producers...
Rising star Sophie Nelisse (The Book Thief, Monsieur Lazhar) is to play the title role in director Stephen Herek’s feature The Great Gilly Hopkins, alongside Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Danny Glover and Octavia Spencer.
Co-financed by William Kay and Peyton Kay of Gemmill Media (Rob the Mob, Future Weather) in association with William Teitler, the film is due to start shoot on April 9.
WestEnd Films is representing the film for international sales at the Efm while Bob Berney will be distributing in North America through his newly re-vamped Picturehouse.
Gilly is David Paterson’s adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s young adult novel about a wisecracking, gum-chewing 12-year old (Nelisse) who is moved from foster home to foster home, outwitting them all, until she meets her match in the shape of Maime Trotter (Bates).
Paterson will produce alongside Teitler and John Paterson. Executive producers...
- 2/6/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: The Book Thief star Nelisse to lead cast, April 9 start of shoot.
Rising star Sophie Nelisse (The Book Thief, Monsieur Lazhar) is to play the title role in director Stephen Herek’s feature The Great Gilly Hopkins, alongside Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Danny Glover and Octavia Spencer.
Co-financed by William Kay and Peyton Kay of Gemmill Media (Rob the Mob, Future Weather) in association with William Teitler, the film is due to start shoot on April 9.
WestEnd Films is representing the film for international sales at the Efm while Bob Berney will be distributing in North America through his newly re-vamped Picturehouse.
Gilly is David Paterson’s adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s young adult novel about a wisecracking, gum-chewing 12-year old (Nelisse) who is moved from foster home to foster home, outwitting them all, until she meets her match in the shape of Maime Trotter (Bates).
Paterson will produce alongside Teitler and John Paterson. Executive producers...
Rising star Sophie Nelisse (The Book Thief, Monsieur Lazhar) is to play the title role in director Stephen Herek’s feature The Great Gilly Hopkins, alongside Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Danny Glover and Octavia Spencer.
Co-financed by William Kay and Peyton Kay of Gemmill Media (Rob the Mob, Future Weather) in association with William Teitler, the film is due to start shoot on April 9.
WestEnd Films is representing the film for international sales at the Efm while Bob Berney will be distributing in North America through his newly re-vamped Picturehouse.
Gilly is David Paterson’s adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s young adult novel about a wisecracking, gum-chewing 12-year old (Nelisse) who is moved from foster home to foster home, outwitting them all, until she meets her match in the shape of Maime Trotter (Bates).
Paterson will produce alongside Teitler and John Paterson. Executive producers...
- 2/6/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Painter/actor/director Bouli Lanners’ third feature, The Giants, which premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, finally gets an understated bow on DVD. Described as a Huckleberry Finn style adventure about three young boys left to their own devices, such lofty literary comparisons unfortunately do Lanners’ film no favors, as this by the numbers escapade doesn’t quite manage to make an impression, despite some pristine cinematography capturing quiet countryside desolation.
Brothers Zak (Zacharie Chasseriaud) and Seth (Martin Nissen) have been abandoned by their mother and are running out of what little money she left behind for them as they stay in their late grandfather’s house in the country. The boys, aged 15 and 13, drive around the countryside, befriending another loner boy, Danny (Paul Bartel), who is often abused physically by his older brother. While Seth retains a cell phone upon which the boys’ mother periodically calls only to cruelly...
Brothers Zak (Zacharie Chasseriaud) and Seth (Martin Nissen) have been abandoned by their mother and are running out of what little money she left behind for them as they stay in their late grandfather’s house in the country. The boys, aged 15 and 13, drive around the countryside, befriending another loner boy, Danny (Paul Bartel), who is often abused physically by his older brother. While Seth retains a cell phone upon which the boys’ mother periodically calls only to cruelly...
- 6/11/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
If writer-director Jenny Deller's film Future Weather reveals anything it's that Perla Haney-Jardine probably has a bright future as a leading actress as she holds her own with Marin Ireland, Amy Madigan, and Lili Taylor to give a fairly deep performance as the daughter of a mother who doesn't deserve her patience. Haney-Jardine carries the film's weight on her shoulders, dancing between scenes with the talented adult cast and teetering on the line between stoic acceptance of her circumstances and the knowledge that she's still a child who should be able to just pursue her passions without having to worry about eviction notices and the pressures of the world forcing her to grow up too soon.
Read more...
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- 4/25/2013
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Climate Control: Deller’s Debut Features Compelling Lead Performance
For her feature film debut, writer/director Jenny Deller has made a solidly crafted film, Future Weather, which is grounded with an extremely likeable performance from its lead rising star. Using global warming as a motif that parallels and intermingles with the coming of age of a young woman from a dysfunctional family in rural Illinois, there’s a comfortable warmth to Deller’s scenario, along with a notable amount of character development, even with more peripheral figures.
While certainly expounding a ‘green’ message, (Deller was awarded a grant through Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which supports the representation of science in entertainment), the film, for the most part, manages to avoid being a mere mouth piece of passionate ideas, instead focusing on one teenager’s ambition to effect positive changes in a world that needs it, unable to control the own dire circumstances that surround her.
For her feature film debut, writer/director Jenny Deller has made a solidly crafted film, Future Weather, which is grounded with an extremely likeable performance from its lead rising star. Using global warming as a motif that parallels and intermingles with the coming of age of a young woman from a dysfunctional family in rural Illinois, there’s a comfortable warmth to Deller’s scenario, along with a notable amount of character development, even with more peripheral figures.
While certainly expounding a ‘green’ message, (Deller was awarded a grant through Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which supports the representation of science in entertainment), the film, for the most part, manages to avoid being a mere mouth piece of passionate ideas, instead focusing on one teenager’s ambition to effect positive changes in a world that needs it, unable to control the own dire circumstances that surround her.
- 2/27/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Jenny Deller’s Future Weather takes an unusual look at Middle America, forgoing the clichés of its demography for ecology. Introverted Laudurée (Perla Haney-Jardine) is abandoned by her mother (Marin Ireland), who flees their trailer for Hollywood, with gelatinous aspirations for a career as a make-up artist. Fiercely independent, Laudurée carries out her daily life as though nothing happened, her days consumed by experiments and the threat of global warming. Yearning to be taken under the wing of her science teacher (Lili Taylor), Laudurée is nevertheless snatched up by her alcoholic grandmother (Amy Madigan), who plans to move to Florida to …...
- 2/21/2013
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Napa Valley Film Festival (Nvff) Co-Founders and Directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer have announced the Jury and Audience Awards for the 2nd annual film festival. Showcasing the best of new independent cinema along with the Napa Valley’s finest food, wine and hospitality, the 2nd annual Nvff, from November 7 – 11, 2012, witnessed a significant increase in attendance over last year’s inaugural festival. Initial estimates range from a 33% to 50% increase; detailed final results will be shared as soon as they are available.
"Our esteemed Jurors and our audiences have recognized a diverse set of cinematic talent," remarked Nvff Executive and Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. "We are delighted with the response to this year's Program and look forward to hosting another batch of exceptional films and filmmakers next year."
Jury Awards for Narrative Features:
Best Narrative Feature ($10,000 Cash Prize presented by Meadowood Napa Valley; wine from Lail Vineyards)
Future Weather,written and directed by Jenny Deller
Special Jury Award for Cinematography (wine from Beaulieu (Bv) Vineyard)
Not Waving but Drowning, Cinematographer Nathan Levine-Haney
Special Jury Award for Acting (wine from Freemark Abbey)
Madeline Zima and Joel David Moore in Stuck, directed by Stuart Acher
Jury Awards for Documentary Films:
Best Documentary Feature (wine from Terlato Family Vineyards)
Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself, co-directed by Tom Bean and Luke Poling
Special Jury Award for Most Promising Documentary Filmmaker (wine from Hill Family Estate)
Matt Day, director ofShape of Things to Come,
Best Documentary Short Subject (wine from Alpha Omega)
The Last Ice Merchant (El Ultimo Hielero), directed by Sandy Patch
Jury Awards for Narrative Short Films:
Best Narrative Short (wine from Chappellet and Fortunati, respectively)
Co-winners: My Name Is Your First Love, written and directed by Rob Richert; The Pact, written and directed by Jason Pugatch
Special Jury Award for Social Impact (wine from Saintsbury)
Put It In a Book, directed by Rodrigo Garcia
Audience Awards:
Favorite Narrative Feature (wine from Behrens Family Winery)
Any Day Now, written and directed by Travis Fine
Favorite Documentary Feature (wine from Peju Province Winery)
Rising From Ashes, directed by T.C. Johnstone
Favorite Documentary Short Subject (wine from Chiarello Family Wines)
Necking, directed by Lindsay Lindenbaum
Favorite Narrative Short (wine from Allora Vineyards)
High Maintenance, written and directed by Shawn Wines
Favorite Lounge Feature (Narrative or Doc) (wine from Show from Trinchero Family)
Beware of Mr. Baker, directed by Jay Bulger
Mt. Veeder Peak Performance for Best Acting in a Narrative Feature ($1,000 Cash Prize and wine from Mt. Veeder Appellation)
Alan Cumming inAny Day Now, directed by Travis Fine; Cumming is donating his prize money to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts
The 2012 Napa Valley Film Festival Jury consisted of: Jury Co-President Leonard Maltin, respected film critic and historian – perhaps best known for his annual paperback reference “Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide” – currently teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts; Jury Co-President Joe Carnahan, well-known writer/director of films such as The Grey, Smokin' Aces, andNarc; John Horn, Film Editor at the Los Angeles Times, where he has been on staff since 2002 and had previously been on staff at Newsweek and premier magazines; Sydney Levine, having thirty plus years in the film industry including being the first woman in international film distribution at 20th Century Fox; Lisa Schwartz, Executive Vice President of Distribution Operations and Business Development for Sundance Selects and IFC Films; Morrie Warshawski, who has worked in the nonprofit arts and culture sector for over thirty years and formerly served as the Executive Director of Bay Area Video Coalition in San Francisco; Paul Zaentz, a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who started his movie-making career on the Academy Award winning film Amadeus; Lissa Gibbs, the Executive Director of the Napa Valley College Foundation; T.J. Martin and Dan Lindsay, Co-Directors/Co-Editors/Co-Cinematographers of the Oscar-winning documentary, Undefeated, a selection of the 2011 Nvff; Sheila Benson, the Principal Film Critic for the Los Angeles Times from 1981–1991. Affiliated with the National Society of Film Critics and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, Sheila has served on juries at film festivals including Berlin, Toronto, and Sundance. Melanie Lynskey, accomplished and versatile actress, originally from New Zealand whose credits include: Win-Win, Up in the Air, The Informant, Away We Go, Flags of Our Fathers, Sweet Home Alabama and her first award-winning role was in Heavenly Creatures with Kate Winslet; Pat Saperstein, Associate Editor of Variety, where she coordinates festival coverage and daily news. Pat has served on juries at several festivals and has been on numerous panels; and Raj Mathai, NBC Bay Area’s news anchor and personality hosted the Awards Ceremony on Closing Night and received a bottle of Mumm Non-Vintage Brut Prestige. Additionally, the Jury Co-Presidents were presented with 3L bottles of wine: Leonard Maltin was given a Duckhorn 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and Joe Carnahan was given a Cornerstone Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon.
On Friday, November 9, Access Hollywood's Billy Bush hosted the Celebrity Tribute Ceremony which was held at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville. Nvff honored James Marsden with the “Trailblazer” Tribute; the actor and singer is known for his roles in 30 Rock, Enchanted, Hairspray, and Robot & Frank, whose upcoming films include Two Guns, opposite Denzel Washington, and playing John F. Kennedy in The Butler. James was also presented with a bottle of Grgich Hills 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Nvff’s “Spotlight On” Tribute went to the seductive Alan Cumming, who has created indelible roles in The Anniversary Party, Sweet Land, the hit series The Good Wife, and his powerful performance in Any Day Now (2012 Nvff selection). Alan received a bottle of Ehlers Estate 2008 One Twenty Over Eighty with his award. Nvff presented two “Rising Star” Tributes: Imogen Poots, a talented young British actress who costars in A Late Quartet (Nvff 2012), who received a bottle of Chandon Non-Vintage Brut Classic along with her award; and Adam Driver who has a charming performance in the Nvff 2012 feature, Not Waving But Drowning, whoalso received a bottle of Chandon Non-Vintage Brut Classic with his award. Driver is best known for his roles in HBO's Girls, Angels in America, You Don’t Know Jack and J. Edgar, the latter opening the 2011 Nvff. Host Billy Bush also received a bottle of Allora Vineyards 2008 “Lusso” Cabernet Sauvignon.
In addition to all of the awards given to actors and films, the Nvff highlighted an impressive array of local restaurants from the area, which were recognized throughout the five-day festival in its “Foodspotting Contest.” This year's Master Foodspotter was Elissa Gordon, with almost 25 sightings. The “Silence of the Lamb Barbacoa Taco” from La Condesa was voted this year's "Best Menu Item," and received the most votes for the name and concept. Alexis Baking Co. was awarded the "Crowd Favorite" as they had the most photos, three of each of their five items.
The 3rd annual Napa Valley Film Festival will take place November 6 – 10, 2013. A special holiday pre-sale, through Dec. 15, 2012, offers Festival Passes for $190 (regularly $250) and Pass Plusses for $425 (regularly $500). Both Passes offer five-day access to film, food and wine events. Additionally, 4-pack tickets will be offered, perfect for holiday gift-giving: Four Festival Passes for $680 ($170 each – normally $250 – for a 32% total savings); Four Pass Plusses for $1,560 ($390 each – normally $500 – for a 22% percent savings). To experience the Festival at its most luxurious, Patron Circle membership starts at $2,500 per person (tax-deductible); join the Circle or renew your membership by Dec. 15, 2012 and receive a complimentary Festival Pass for a friend or family member. For more information or to purchase tickets at the best rates to be offered all year, please visit napavalleyfilmfest.org by midnight, December 15, 2012.
About the Napa Valley Film Festival & Cinema Napa Valley:
The Napa Valley Film Festival is produced by Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. The festival's co-creators – and Cinema Napa Valley co-chairs – are Brenda and Marc Lhormer, producers and distributors of the feature film Bottle Shock about the historic upset victory by Napa Valley wines over the French at the1976 wine-tasting competition in Paris. Bottle Shock premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival before going on to international theatrical distribution. The husband-and-wife team also ran the successful Sonoma Valley Film Festival from 2001 through 2008. In addition to producing the annual film festival, Cinema Napa Valley presents special film programs throughout the year and provides support to student filmmaking programs in Napa Valley schools. To learn more, visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org and follow www.facebook.com/NapaValleyFilmFestival.
"Our esteemed Jurors and our audiences have recognized a diverse set of cinematic talent," remarked Nvff Executive and Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. "We are delighted with the response to this year's Program and look forward to hosting another batch of exceptional films and filmmakers next year."
Jury Awards for Narrative Features:
Best Narrative Feature ($10,000 Cash Prize presented by Meadowood Napa Valley; wine from Lail Vineyards)
Future Weather,written and directed by Jenny Deller
Special Jury Award for Cinematography (wine from Beaulieu (Bv) Vineyard)
Not Waving but Drowning, Cinematographer Nathan Levine-Haney
Special Jury Award for Acting (wine from Freemark Abbey)
Madeline Zima and Joel David Moore in Stuck, directed by Stuart Acher
Jury Awards for Documentary Films:
Best Documentary Feature (wine from Terlato Family Vineyards)
Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself, co-directed by Tom Bean and Luke Poling
Special Jury Award for Most Promising Documentary Filmmaker (wine from Hill Family Estate)
Matt Day, director ofShape of Things to Come,
Best Documentary Short Subject (wine from Alpha Omega)
The Last Ice Merchant (El Ultimo Hielero), directed by Sandy Patch
Jury Awards for Narrative Short Films:
Best Narrative Short (wine from Chappellet and Fortunati, respectively)
Co-winners: My Name Is Your First Love, written and directed by Rob Richert; The Pact, written and directed by Jason Pugatch
Special Jury Award for Social Impact (wine from Saintsbury)
Put It In a Book, directed by Rodrigo Garcia
Audience Awards:
Favorite Narrative Feature (wine from Behrens Family Winery)
Any Day Now, written and directed by Travis Fine
Favorite Documentary Feature (wine from Peju Province Winery)
Rising From Ashes, directed by T.C. Johnstone
Favorite Documentary Short Subject (wine from Chiarello Family Wines)
Necking, directed by Lindsay Lindenbaum
Favorite Narrative Short (wine from Allora Vineyards)
High Maintenance, written and directed by Shawn Wines
Favorite Lounge Feature (Narrative or Doc) (wine from Show from Trinchero Family)
Beware of Mr. Baker, directed by Jay Bulger
Mt. Veeder Peak Performance for Best Acting in a Narrative Feature ($1,000 Cash Prize and wine from Mt. Veeder Appellation)
Alan Cumming inAny Day Now, directed by Travis Fine; Cumming is donating his prize money to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts
The 2012 Napa Valley Film Festival Jury consisted of: Jury Co-President Leonard Maltin, respected film critic and historian – perhaps best known for his annual paperback reference “Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide” – currently teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts; Jury Co-President Joe Carnahan, well-known writer/director of films such as The Grey, Smokin' Aces, andNarc; John Horn, Film Editor at the Los Angeles Times, where he has been on staff since 2002 and had previously been on staff at Newsweek and premier magazines; Sydney Levine, having thirty plus years in the film industry including being the first woman in international film distribution at 20th Century Fox; Lisa Schwartz, Executive Vice President of Distribution Operations and Business Development for Sundance Selects and IFC Films; Morrie Warshawski, who has worked in the nonprofit arts and culture sector for over thirty years and formerly served as the Executive Director of Bay Area Video Coalition in San Francisco; Paul Zaentz, a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who started his movie-making career on the Academy Award winning film Amadeus; Lissa Gibbs, the Executive Director of the Napa Valley College Foundation; T.J. Martin and Dan Lindsay, Co-Directors/Co-Editors/Co-Cinematographers of the Oscar-winning documentary, Undefeated, a selection of the 2011 Nvff; Sheila Benson, the Principal Film Critic for the Los Angeles Times from 1981–1991. Affiliated with the National Society of Film Critics and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, Sheila has served on juries at film festivals including Berlin, Toronto, and Sundance. Melanie Lynskey, accomplished and versatile actress, originally from New Zealand whose credits include: Win-Win, Up in the Air, The Informant, Away We Go, Flags of Our Fathers, Sweet Home Alabama and her first award-winning role was in Heavenly Creatures with Kate Winslet; Pat Saperstein, Associate Editor of Variety, where she coordinates festival coverage and daily news. Pat has served on juries at several festivals and has been on numerous panels; and Raj Mathai, NBC Bay Area’s news anchor and personality hosted the Awards Ceremony on Closing Night and received a bottle of Mumm Non-Vintage Brut Prestige. Additionally, the Jury Co-Presidents were presented with 3L bottles of wine: Leonard Maltin was given a Duckhorn 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and Joe Carnahan was given a Cornerstone Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon.
On Friday, November 9, Access Hollywood's Billy Bush hosted the Celebrity Tribute Ceremony which was held at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville. Nvff honored James Marsden with the “Trailblazer” Tribute; the actor and singer is known for his roles in 30 Rock, Enchanted, Hairspray, and Robot & Frank, whose upcoming films include Two Guns, opposite Denzel Washington, and playing John F. Kennedy in The Butler. James was also presented with a bottle of Grgich Hills 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Nvff’s “Spotlight On” Tribute went to the seductive Alan Cumming, who has created indelible roles in The Anniversary Party, Sweet Land, the hit series The Good Wife, and his powerful performance in Any Day Now (2012 Nvff selection). Alan received a bottle of Ehlers Estate 2008 One Twenty Over Eighty with his award. Nvff presented two “Rising Star” Tributes: Imogen Poots, a talented young British actress who costars in A Late Quartet (Nvff 2012), who received a bottle of Chandon Non-Vintage Brut Classic along with her award; and Adam Driver who has a charming performance in the Nvff 2012 feature, Not Waving But Drowning, whoalso received a bottle of Chandon Non-Vintage Brut Classic with his award. Driver is best known for his roles in HBO's Girls, Angels in America, You Don’t Know Jack and J. Edgar, the latter opening the 2011 Nvff. Host Billy Bush also received a bottle of Allora Vineyards 2008 “Lusso” Cabernet Sauvignon.
In addition to all of the awards given to actors and films, the Nvff highlighted an impressive array of local restaurants from the area, which were recognized throughout the five-day festival in its “Foodspotting Contest.” This year's Master Foodspotter was Elissa Gordon, with almost 25 sightings. The “Silence of the Lamb Barbacoa Taco” from La Condesa was voted this year's "Best Menu Item," and received the most votes for the name and concept. Alexis Baking Co. was awarded the "Crowd Favorite" as they had the most photos, three of each of their five items.
The 3rd annual Napa Valley Film Festival will take place November 6 – 10, 2013. A special holiday pre-sale, through Dec. 15, 2012, offers Festival Passes for $190 (regularly $250) and Pass Plusses for $425 (regularly $500). Both Passes offer five-day access to film, food and wine events. Additionally, 4-pack tickets will be offered, perfect for holiday gift-giving: Four Festival Passes for $680 ($170 each – normally $250 – for a 32% total savings); Four Pass Plusses for $1,560 ($390 each – normally $500 – for a 22% percent savings). To experience the Festival at its most luxurious, Patron Circle membership starts at $2,500 per person (tax-deductible); join the Circle or renew your membership by Dec. 15, 2012 and receive a complimentary Festival Pass for a friend or family member. For more information or to purchase tickets at the best rates to be offered all year, please visit napavalleyfilmfest.org by midnight, December 15, 2012.
About the Napa Valley Film Festival & Cinema Napa Valley:
The Napa Valley Film Festival is produced by Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. The festival's co-creators – and Cinema Napa Valley co-chairs – are Brenda and Marc Lhormer, producers and distributors of the feature film Bottle Shock about the historic upset victory by Napa Valley wines over the French at the1976 wine-tasting competition in Paris. Bottle Shock premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival before going on to international theatrical distribution. The husband-and-wife team also ran the successful Sonoma Valley Film Festival from 2001 through 2008. In addition to producing the annual film festival, Cinema Napa Valley presents special film programs throughout the year and provides support to student filmmaking programs in Napa Valley schools. To learn more, visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org and follow www.facebook.com/NapaValleyFilmFestival.
- 12/14/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The 21st Annual Philadelphia Film Festival came to a close on Sunday, ending a strong 10-day run. Featuring a smattering of entries from Cannes, Toronto and SXSW among others, this year’s Pff lineup was one of the most diverse in recent memory.
Best of the Fest:
Beyond The Hills (Mungiu, 2012)
Cristian Mungiu’s follow-up to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a horror film that draws as much of its creeping dread from a jarring soundscape as from the events that take place during its pseudo-exorcism narrative.
A test of female friendship and possibly love, Beyond The Hills is also a test of audience endurance. Clocking in at a healthy 150 minutes, Mungiu uses every minute to ramp the tension painfully slowly. The only jump moment in the film is a joke at the fraught nerves expecting something different.
Barbara (Petzold, 2012)
Probably also the simplest film in the festival, Barbara is...
Best of the Fest:
Beyond The Hills (Mungiu, 2012)
Cristian Mungiu’s follow-up to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a horror film that draws as much of its creeping dread from a jarring soundscape as from the events that take place during its pseudo-exorcism narrative.
A test of female friendship and possibly love, Beyond The Hills is also a test of audience endurance. Clocking in at a healthy 150 minutes, Mungiu uses every minute to ramp the tension painfully slowly. The only jump moment in the film is a joke at the fraught nerves expecting something different.
Barbara (Petzold, 2012)
Probably also the simplest film in the festival, Barbara is...
- 10/31/2012
- by Neal Dhand
- SoundOnSight
Future Weather
To call Future Weather a ‘coming-of-age’ tale would likely be to make the assumption that the 13 year-old lead, Lauduree (Perla Haney-Jardine) has a Stand By Me moment somewhere around the climax of the film. Though Lauduree has her scene, the folks that come-of-age in Jenny Deller’s debut feature are the adults.
Lauduree is a precocious girl with big, environmental-science aspirations. Her mom Tanya (Marin Ireland) is an aspiring makeup artist, but a bit of a feckless parent. Her grandmother Greta (Amy Madigan) is love-lost, and more of a parent than Tanya seems capable of.
Haney-Jardine handles some difficult material with grown-up poise, and those childlike adults play their roles with equal parts moderation and complete abandonment.
Future Weather is a small film that looks big. Deller and cinematographer Zak Mulligan magically transform suburban Pennsylvania to a beautiful rural wonderland, and Deller’s assured direction makes her work...
To call Future Weather a ‘coming-of-age’ tale would likely be to make the assumption that the 13 year-old lead, Lauduree (Perla Haney-Jardine) has a Stand By Me moment somewhere around the climax of the film. Though Lauduree has her scene, the folks that come-of-age in Jenny Deller’s debut feature are the adults.
Lauduree is a precocious girl with big, environmental-science aspirations. Her mom Tanya (Marin Ireland) is an aspiring makeup artist, but a bit of a feckless parent. Her grandmother Greta (Amy Madigan) is love-lost, and more of a parent than Tanya seems capable of.
Haney-Jardine handles some difficult material with grown-up poise, and those childlike adults play their roles with equal parts moderation and complete abandonment.
Future Weather is a small film that looks big. Deller and cinematographer Zak Mulligan magically transform suburban Pennsylvania to a beautiful rural wonderland, and Deller’s assured direction makes her work...
- 10/22/2012
- by Neal Dhand
- SoundOnSight
I can't remember a time I went to the Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) press launch and looked over the list of films and saw so many I was interested in seeing. The claim to fame for over the years is to call it the largest and most-highly attended festival in the United States. This is a fact I've often taken issue with as I don't equate quantity with quality. Granted, there has been a large number of quality features to play the fest over the years, including Golden Space Needle (Best Film) winners such as Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), My Life as a Dog (1987), Trainspotting (1996), Run Lola Run (1999), Whale Rider (2003) and even recent Best Director winner, Michel Hazanavicius's Oss 117: Nest of Spies in 2006. That said, looking over this year's crop of films I see a lot of films I will be doing my absolute best to see.
- 4/27/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
From a chorus with Oscar potential to a New York theater institution to a young girl obsessed with global warming to the incomparable Joe Papp, see these films first before the rest of the world! Our special Sunday-only films embody the spirit of originality and diversity that we hold so dear at the Tribeca Film Festival. Join the minds behind the Once Upon a Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story, including chorus teacher Gregg Breinberg, after the screening as they discuss their journey to the Oscars and the important role that media arts plays in young people's development. Love and Politics is a touching documentary that goes behind the curtain into the life of Judith Malina, one of the co-founders of The Living Theater and New York acting legend. Director Jenny Deller, Lili Taylor, Amy Madigan, Perla Haney-Jardine and others will be in attendance at Future Weather, a film about a...
- 4/27/2012
- TribecaFilm.com
With the Tribeca Film Festival kicking off today, it’s high time we dove into our coverage of New York City’s hometown fest. To that end, it’s our great pleasure to debut the first poster for writer-director-producer Jenny Deller‘s Future Weather, the multi-hyphenate’s first feature, which will have its world premiere next week. The film centers on young Lauduree, a lonely teenager who has a serious interest in environmentalism and nature and who is already worried about the effects of environmental disaster on the world at large. But it’s Lauduree’s world that is about to be turned on its head, when her shiftless single mom leaves her for sunshiny California. Abandoned, alone, and terrified, Lauduree comes under the care of her grandmother, who comes with her own pack of issues that shouldn’t serve much comfort to the already fragile Lauduree. The film stars a wonderful cast of known and new...
- 4/18/2012
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
In addition to a plethora of exciting films, Tribeca offers a slew of fascinating special events. Here are four that look hot. 1. Academy Award–winning filmmaker-activist Michael Moore will be interviewed by Academy Award–winning actor Susan Sarandon. April 22, 3 p.m., Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chamber St., Manhattan.2. After the movie “Freaky Deaky,” there will be a conversation with novelist Elmore Leonard, director-screenwriter Charles Matthau, and actors Christian Slater, Crispin Glover, Michael Jai White, and Andy Dick. April 22, 3:30 p.m., School of Visual Arts, Theater 1, 333 W. 23rd St., Manhattan.3. After the movie “Future Weather,” a conversation will be held with writer-director Jenny Deller, producer Kristin Fairweather, actor Amy Madigan, actor Perla Haney-Jardine, and actor Lili Taylor. April 29, 5 p.m., School of Visual Arts, Theater 2, 333 W. 23rd St., Manhattan.4. In a conversation with Robert De Niro and Judd Apatow, the actor and director...
- 4/17/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Simi Horwitz)
- backstage.com
The 21st Gotham Awards ended with a hung jury: Mike Mills' “Beginners” and Terrence Malick's “The Tree of Life” are both crowned with Best Feature film beating out fellow noms “The Descendants”, “Meek’s Cutoff” and “Take Shelter”. Best Doc went to (a film which I don't even remember having had a theatrical release) in Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega's “Better This World”. It beat “Bill Cunningham New York” by Richard Press, “Hell and Back Again” by Danfung Dennis, “The Interrupters” by Steve James and “The Woodmans” by C Scott Willis. In the Best Ensemble Performance, it was Mike Mills' Beginners crew of Ewan McGregor, Mélanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic, Kai Lennox, Mary Page Keller, Keegan Boos and Christopher Plummer, the veteran actor who should get ready for Best Supporting Actor speeches for the Indie Spirits and Oscars. Beginners beat out several films that had stornger one,...
- 11/29/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Brad Pitt in Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life Alexander Payne, Terrence Malick In; Woody Allen Out: Gotham Awards 2011 Best Feature (tie) * Beginners Mike Mills, director; Leslie Urdang, Dean Vanech, Miranda de Pencier, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, producers (Focus Features) The Descendants Alexander Payne, director; Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, producers (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Meek’s Cutoff Kelly Reichardt, director; Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani, Elizabeth Cuthrell, David Urrutia, producers (Oscilloscope Laboratories) Take Shelter Jeff Nichols, director; Tyler Davidson, Sophia Lin, producers (Sony Pictures Classics) * The Tree of Life Terrence Malick, director; Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Grant Hill, producers (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Best Documentary * Better This World Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega, directors; Katie Galloway, Kelly Duane de la Vega, Mike Nicholson, producers (Loteria Films, Picturebox, Motto Pictures and Passion Pictures; Itvs in association with American Documentary | Pov) Bill Cunningham New York Richard Press,...
- 11/29/2011
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
#21. Future Weather - Jenny Deller Knowing how Redford feels about the environment and films that promote responsibility of mother earth, Sundance programmers have probably been tracking this title for some time now. Multiple grant winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Jenny Deller's three generational tale/environmental drama has got some strong indie pedigree such as Lili Taylor among the cast and on the tech side, they've got dp Zak Mulligan who did some great work on Obselidia - a Park City entry back in 2010. Nominated for a new Gotham award this year, we think Future Weather is possibly a good fit for the U.S Dramatic Comp. Gist: Lauduree (Haney-Jardine) is a teenage loner passionate about nature and worried about global warming. Greta, her grandmother, is a caustic nurse jaded by alcohol and disappointment. They're thrust into each other's lives when Lauduree's mother flees to pursue her long-held...
- 11/9/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
The 2011 Gotham Independent Filmmaker Awards were announced Thursday (Oct. 20). "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and "The Descendants" lead the way with three apiece. Notable individual nominations went to Elizabeth Olsen and Vera Farmiga. The awards will be handed out Monday, Nov. 28 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.
Best Feature
"Beginners,"
"The Descendants"
"Meek's Cutoff"
"Take Shelter"
"The Tree of Life"
Best Documentary
"Better This World"
"Hell and Back Again"
"The Interrupters"
"The Woodmans"
Best Ensemble Performance
"Beginners"
"The Descendants"
"Margin Call"
"Martha Marcy May Marlene"
"Take Shelter"
Breakthrough Director
Mike Cahill for "Another Earth"
Sean Durkin for "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Vera Farmiga for "Higher Ground"
Evan Glodell for "Bellflower"
Dee Rees for "Pariah"
Breakthrough Actor
Felicity Jones in "Like Crazy"
Elizabeth Olsen in "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Harmony Santana in "Gun Hill Road"
Shailene Woodley in "The Descendants"
Jacob Wysocki in "Terri"
Best Film Not Playing at a Theater...
Best Feature
"Beginners,"
"The Descendants"
"Meek's Cutoff"
"Take Shelter"
"The Tree of Life"
Best Documentary
"Better This World"
"Hell and Back Again"
"The Interrupters"
"The Woodmans"
Best Ensemble Performance
"Beginners"
"The Descendants"
"Margin Call"
"Martha Marcy May Marlene"
"Take Shelter"
Breakthrough Director
Mike Cahill for "Another Earth"
Sean Durkin for "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Vera Farmiga for "Higher Ground"
Evan Glodell for "Bellflower"
Dee Rees for "Pariah"
Breakthrough Actor
Felicity Jones in "Like Crazy"
Elizabeth Olsen in "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Harmony Santana in "Gun Hill Road"
Shailene Woodley in "The Descendants"
Jacob Wysocki in "Terri"
Best Film Not Playing at a Theater...
- 10/21/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
This morning the 21st Gotham Independent Film Award nominations were announced, giving us one of our first indicators of what to keep an eye on when it comes to considering our Oscar predictions. Personally, I really like the list they've come up with, though I'm sure some will immediately wonder what happened to Drive. Well, let's take a look at a few of the org's rules for consideration before getting too upset: Filmmaking with a point of view
Ifp believes that filmmaking is a subjective art form. Each Gotham Independent Film Award will be given to individual films or performers in films where the vision of an individual director, producer, writer or writer/director is abundantly evident, and where the film cannot be classically defined as a "work for hire." Feature-length (defined as over 60 minutes) Films made with an economy of means Films must be American
The film must be...
Ifp believes that filmmaking is a subjective art form. Each Gotham Independent Film Award will be given to individual films or performers in films where the vision of an individual director, producer, writer or writer/director is abundantly evident, and where the film cannot be classically defined as a "work for hire." Feature-length (defined as over 60 minutes) Films made with an economy of means Films must be American
The film must be...
- 10/20/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Continuing with their policy of spreading the joy in across all categories, the Gotham independent film award nominations has Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene and Alexander Payne’s The Descendantsleading the pack with three noms each, but mysteriously it is Durkin's gem that is pushed aside in a Best Feature category that includes Payne's film and Tree of Life, the other best indie film of the year in Jeff Nichols's Take Shelter, and a pair of films that many of us associate to 2010 in Meek's Cutoff and Beginners. The 21st gala will take place in late November. It would be a huge surprise if Martha Marcy May Marlene doesn't take home Breakthrough Actor (Elizabeth Olsen) and Breakthrough Director (the category see Durkin measure himself up against four other Sundance Film Festival newbies - he claimed the Best Directing prize at the festival), but in the Best Ensemble...
- 10/20/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
The heavy awards onslaught is gearing up and it is a good year to be Fox Searchlight. The 21st Gotham Independent Film Award Nominations have been announced and two of the studio’s films happen to lead the pack. Alexander Payne‘s The Descendants picked up nominations for Best Feature, Best Ensemble Performance and Best Breakthrough Actor. Their Sundance hit (and one of my personal favorites of the year) Martha Marcy May Marlene picked up Ensemble, Breakthrough Actor and Breakthrough Director for Sean Durkin.
That latter award is a great pack including Mike Cahill for Another Earth, Vera Farmiga for Higher Ground, Evan Glodell for Bellflower and Dee Rees for Pariah. It is also great to see my frontrunner for #1 film of 2011, Terrence Malick‘s The Tree of Life get a Best Feature nomination. Check out the noms below via indieWIRE.
New York, NY (October 20, 2011) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp...
That latter award is a great pack including Mike Cahill for Another Earth, Vera Farmiga for Higher Ground, Evan Glodell for Bellflower and Dee Rees for Pariah. It is also great to see my frontrunner for #1 film of 2011, Terrence Malick‘s The Tree of Life get a Best Feature nomination. Check out the noms below via indieWIRE.
New York, NY (October 20, 2011) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp...
- 10/20/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
The Ifp and the Film Society of Lincoln Center have announced a collaborative program to take place during this year’s New York Film Festival called Emerging Visions.
According to the press release, Emerging Visions will take place Oct. 3 at Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center with 25 emerging filmmaking talents attending with a documentary or narrative feature that has been selected from Ifp and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s talent pool. They will be paired with an established director or producer who will mentor them through the current filmmaking landscape, offering guidance and connections to filmmakers on both their current projects and careers. Each filmmaker will receive mentorship and year round support from both organizations through annual memberships and participation in panels and events. The program will also include a live pitching session featuring panelists Christine Vachon (producer, Killer Digital), John Sloss (principal, Cinetic Media), Lucy Stille (agent,...
According to the press release, Emerging Visions will take place Oct. 3 at Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center with 25 emerging filmmaking talents attending with a documentary or narrative feature that has been selected from Ifp and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s talent pool. They will be paired with an established director or producer who will mentor them through the current filmmaking landscape, offering guidance and connections to filmmakers on both their current projects and careers. Each filmmaker will receive mentorship and year round support from both organizations through annual memberships and participation in panels and events. The program will also include a live pitching session featuring panelists Christine Vachon (producer, Killer Digital), John Sloss (principal, Cinetic Media), Lucy Stille (agent,...
- 9/13/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
In a press release today Ifp announced the participants of the 2011 Narrative Independent Filmmaker Lab, which kicked off today and will go on in New York City until June 10.
The Narrative Lab Fellows and their features are Matt Ruskin (Booster), Rola Nashef (Detroit Unleaded), Nir Paniry (Extracted), Jenny Deller (Future Weather), Andrew Semans (Nancy, Please), Sara Blecher (Otelo Burning), Tim Sutton (Pavilion), Jaron Henrie-McCrea (Pervertigo), Ryan O’Nan (The Brooklyn Brothers Beat The Best), Mark Harris (The Lost Children) and Keith Miller (Welcome To Pine Hill).
This highly immersive, free mentorship program for first-time feature filmmakers is currently the only film program that supports diverse, low budget, independently produced filmmakers through the completion, marketing and distribution of their first feature film.
The Labs include an initial five days of workshops in June that assist filmmakers with the technical, creative and strategic advice needed to complete their films. In September, a...
The Narrative Lab Fellows and their features are Matt Ruskin (Booster), Rola Nashef (Detroit Unleaded), Nir Paniry (Extracted), Jenny Deller (Future Weather), Andrew Semans (Nancy, Please), Sara Blecher (Otelo Burning), Tim Sutton (Pavilion), Jaron Henrie-McCrea (Pervertigo), Ryan O’Nan (The Brooklyn Brothers Beat The Best), Mark Harris (The Lost Children) and Keith Miller (Welcome To Pine Hill).
This highly immersive, free mentorship program for first-time feature filmmakers is currently the only film program that supports diverse, low budget, independently produced filmmakers through the completion, marketing and distribution of their first feature film.
The Labs include an initial five days of workshops in June that assist filmmakers with the technical, creative and strategic advice needed to complete their films. In September, a...
- 6/6/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The times they are a-changin'...
As a producer, I'm still getting accustomed to the highs and lows of producing. My producing partner, Jenny Deller, and I have seen many peaks and valleys over the past few years developing our first feature, Future Weather. Our project was selected as a finalist for major film contest, the script won a best screenplay award from the Nantucket Film Festival, and we've entered into talks with an Oscar-nominated actress to star. But for every one of these achievements, we've had ten times as many disappointments and rejections. I guess it goes with the territory.
A definite high was the day I found out Future Weather was selected for Find's Producers Lab (2009). Little did I know that this victory would bring me face-to-face with another harsh reality: indie filmmaking is a lot more treacherous than it used to be. Keep reading to find out why despite all the challenges,...
As a producer, I'm still getting accustomed to the highs and lows of producing. My producing partner, Jenny Deller, and I have seen many peaks and valleys over the past few years developing our first feature, Future Weather. Our project was selected as a finalist for major film contest, the script won a best screenplay award from the Nantucket Film Festival, and we've entered into talks with an Oscar-nominated actress to star. But for every one of these achievements, we've had ten times as many disappointments and rejections. I guess it goes with the territory.
A definite high was the day I found out Future Weather was selected for Find's Producers Lab (2009). Little did I know that this victory would bring me face-to-face with another harsh reality: indie filmmaking is a lot more treacherous than it used to be. Keep reading to find out why despite all the challenges,...
- 9/1/2010
- Film Independent
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