Film Strategy

Overnight | Tony Montana & Mark Brian Smith | 2003 | USA | Format: 16mm, Super 8, Video | 82 min Overnight  should be required viewing for every film student, not because it is the pinnacle of documentary filmmaking but because it is an eye-opening lesson in the dangers of hubris. In addition, it's a glimpse into the business, how political it can be and why you should read the contracts before signing (or have your lawyer read it for you). It's not just a lil luck and a lot of talent that you need to make it, you need a work ethic, some charm and a flexible strategy. The filmmaker is an artist and some vanity is to be expected when you are dealing with expressing a powerful and unique vision but film is also a collaborative art that requires the OTHER people to make that powerful and unique vision a reality. Too many directors forget that as they go into diva mode a la Troy Duffy. You can be eccentric but don't be an asshole. Besides as the history* of this docum

As soon as I read this  Film Industry Network article  headline:  CANNES FILM FESTIVAL BEING SUED BY A FILM DIRECTOR and started the first sentence: A French film director is suing the Cannes Film Festival for not accepting his film. plus saw the accompanying picture: I shook my head in disbelief, "This  young  director just ruined his career before it even started."  At least  this guy  got a deal and a movie bought and distributed before he nuked his career.  The lesson is clear : If you want a career in filmmaking, suing one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world because they did NOT choose your film is one of the worst things you can do.  Curious to know what legal loophole the director is trying to exploit to make his case, I read the article. And it turns out the young guy in that pic is NOT the director. That guy is one of the actors in the film. And the director's name is Paul Verhoeven. Now  Paul Verhoeven  is a  veteran  di

The FilmPortal.net announces the list of winners at this year's Cannes : The Jury of this 67 th  Festival de Cannes, presided over by Jane Campion, revealed  this evening the prizes winners during the Awards Ceremony. Lambert Wilson hosted Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino on the stage  of the Grand Théâtre Lumière to award the Palme d’or to  Nuri Bilge CEYLAN   for his film  WINTER SLEEP . Sergio Leone’s  Per un pugno di dollari  ( A Fistful of Dollars ) presented  by Quentin Tarantino, was screened at the end of the ceremony. Palme d'or WINTER SLEEP  by Nuri Bilge CEYLAN   Grand Prix LE MERAVIGLIE (The Wonders)  by Alice ROHRWACHER Best Director Award Bennett MILLER for  FOXCATCHER   Jury Prize ex-aequo MOMMY  by Xavier DOLAN ADIEU AU LANGAGE (Goodbye to language)  by Jean-Luc GODARD   Best Screenplay Award Andrey ZVYAGINTSEV and Oleg NEGIN for  LEVIATHAN Best Actress Award Julianne MOORE in  MAPS TO THE STARS  by David CRONENBERG Best Ac

UN CERTAIN REGARD 2014 Un Certain Regard 2014 presented in competition 20 films hailing from 23 different countries. Seven of the works were first films. The Opening film was  Party Girl  by Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis. Under the presidency of Pablo Trapero (director - Argentina), the Jury was comprised of Peter Becker (president of The Criterion Collection - USA), Maria Bonnevie (actress - Norway/Sweden), Géraldine Pailhas (actress - France), Moussa Touré (director - Sénégal).  The Jury was honored and delighted to have been able to view over ten days so many excellent films testifying to the diversity and vitality of filmmaking in the world today. They were also impressed by the vision and originality of the works presented. PRIZE OF UN CERTAIN REGARD FEHÉR ISTEN / WHITE GOD  by Kornél Mundruczó ( trailer ) ( review ) Rights  sold by the Match Factory to multiple territories JURY PRIZE TURIST * / FORCE MAJEURE   by Ruben Östlund  ( traile

ABBAS KIAROSTAMI AND THE JURY ANNOUNCED THE WINNERS OF THE 17 th  CINÉFONDATION SELECTION The Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury headed by Abbas Kiarostami and including Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Noémie Lvovsky, Daniela Thomas and Joachim Trier, has awarded the 2014 Cinéfondation Prizes during a ceremony held in the Buñuel Theatre, followed by the screening of the winning films. The Cinéfondation Selection consisted of 16 student films, chosen out of 1 631 entries coming from 457 film schools around the world. First Prize: SKUNK  directed by Annie Silverstein  ( Facebook ) ( Kickstarter page ) the University of Texas at Austin, USA Second Prize: OH LUCY!  directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi  ( Facebook ) NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia, Singapore Joint Third Prize:  LIEVITO MADRE  directed by Fulvio Risuleo ( trailer ) Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Italy Joint Third Prize:  THE BIGGER PICTURE  directed by Daisy Jacobs ( trailer ) National Film and Television School, Unite