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METRO MANILA wins the Audience Award at Sundance! METRO MANILA wins the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic at Sundance Film Festival 2013! See full list of Winners here Sean Ellis returns to Sundance as METRO MANILA screens in World Dramatic Competition Metro Manila, the latest feature length film directed by Oscar® and BAFTA nominated filmmaker Sean Ellis was today announced as having been selected for the World Dramatic Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Metro Manila tells the story of Oscar Ramirez and his family who, seeking a better life, move from the poverty stricken rice fields of the Northern Philippine mountain ranges and journey towards the capital mega city of Metro Manila. Upon arriving in the big city, it isn't long before they fall foul to various city inhabitants whose manipulative ways are a daily part of city survival. Oscar lands a job as a driver for an armored truck company and is befriended by Ong, his senior officer. It soon becomes apparent that Ong has been waiting for the arrival of someone just like Oscar for some time. Metro Manila was shot on location in the Philippines in 2011 with a Filipino cast and crew and the film uses the local Tagalog dialect throughout. The film was co-written with Frank E. Flowers and produced by Mathilde Charpentier through Chocolate Frog Films. Sean Ellis commented ‘I'm extremely honoured and proud to have the World premiere of Metro Manila at Sundance as part of their World Dramatic competition. The reputation that Sundance has for supporting film and filmmakers is second to none and it is a privilege to be invited back to Park City once again.’ The film stars Jake Macapagal, John Arcilla and Althea Vega. INDEPENDENT is representing the film for international Sales and ICM for North America. Independent on board THE MOTEL LIFE Independent has taken international rights to Rome Film Festival competition title The Motel Life, starring Emile Hirsch, Stephen Dorff and Dakota Fanning. Directed and produced by first-time filmmakers Alan Polsky and Gabe Polsky, and based on the novel by Willy Vlautin, the drama charts the story of two brothers living on the fringes of Reno, Nevada, whose relationship is tested when one of them becomes involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident. Ann Ruark also produced. The Motel Life, which also features music by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, The Kills, Radio Moscow, Justin Townes Earle and Marty Stuart, gets its world premiere in Rome on Friday November 16. Polsky and Gabe Polsky previously produced Werner Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, documentary His Way, about Jerry Weintraub, and 2011 drama Little Birds, starring Juno Temple, Kay Panabaker, Kate Bosworth and Leslie Mann. Andrew Orr commented: “We are delighted to be working with Alan and Gabe Polsky on this beautiful picture and bringing The Motel Life to the Rome Film Festival. The film contains great performances from Stephen Dorff and Emile Hirsch which we think will blow people away.” Screen International, by Andreas Wiseman Production underway on The Sea John Banville’s adaptation of his Man Booker Prize winner set to shoot for five weeks in County Wexford, Ireland; Independent are handling international sales and will distribute in UK and Ireland. Principal photography has commenced on John’s Banville’s adaptation of his Man Booker Prize winning novel The Sea. Banville’s novel centres around Max who, after the death of his wife, returns to the sea where he spent his childhood summers. The film is directed by Stephen Brown in his feature debut, and stars Ciaran Hinds [pictured] as Max alongside Charlotte Rampling, Natascha McElhone, Rufus Sewell and Sinead Cusack as well as marking the screen debuts of Missy Keating, Matthew Dillon and Padhraig Parkinson. Independent are handling international sales and will release the film theatrically in the UK and Ireland in 2013. Luc Roeg & Michael Robinson of Independent and David Collins of Samson Films produce, in association with Rooks Nest Entertainment, Quicksilver Films, Windmill Lane Pictures and RTE, with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the participation of the Irish Film Board. Andrew Orr, Philip Herd, Ernest Bachrach, Rebecca Long, Steve Spence, Michael Sackler and Julia Godzinskaya executive produce. The Sea will shoot for five weeks, primarily on location in County Wexford, Ireland, and post-production will take place in Dublin at Windmill Lane. Roeg commented: “I’ve wanted to make a film of John Banville’s haunting and soulful novel for several years and it’s been worth the wait. I’m excited to introduce a new film maker, Stephen Brown, to world cinema and I couldn’t be more delighted with the cast and crew we’ve assembled together with our producing partners at Samson Films. The film has been made possible by the tremendous support we’ve had from Ireland and all our financiers.” Screen International, by Ian Sandwell Independent Distribution to release Matteo Garrone's REALITY Independent Distribution are set to release Grand Prix winner Reality in the UK, alongside Fandango Portobello. Directed by Gomorrah director Matteo Garrone, Reality explores the extreme lengths one man will go to to achieve fame for the sake of his family. The film will have its UK premiere at this year's London Film Festival and will be released theatrically in December. To find out more, read here. Glowing press for Bernard Rose's BOXING DAY Following its World Premiere at Venice Film Festival, Bernard Rose's BOXING DAY has received some amazing reviews.
Peter Bradshaw writing in The UK Guardian called Boxing Day "a shrewd and cerebral picture" and "a cleverly judged and very satisfying piece of work". Screen International called the film a "nuanced and intriguingly watchable film" and said it was "driven by nicely textured performances from Danny Huston and Matthew Jacobs". For the whole Guardian review click here, and for Screen click here. First images of CHARLES SWAN III are released as the US Distributor confirmed! The first images from Roman Coppola's new comedy, A Glimpse Inside The Mind Of Charles Swan III, have been revealed just as brand new New York-based distributor A24 has acquired all U.S. rights to the film.
Written and directed by Roman Coppola – a frequent collaborator of Wes Anderson's – Charles Swan III stars Charlie Sheen as a brokenhearted playboy with best friends Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman trying to pull him out of a surreal spiral after the love of his life leaves him. Film exec David Fenkel's A24 have announced plans to debut the film in February 2013. OUT NOW: The Myth of the American Sleepover hits a note with critics David Robert Mitchell's The Myth of the American Sleepover has been well-received by critics since its UK theatrical release on 31 August with the Financial Times calling it "tersely poetic" and the Guardian hailing it as "a thing of beauty." The Independent writes of the film, "This is teenage as an American Truffaut would see it, with a woozy charm reminiscent of Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides". The Myth of the American Sleepover is out now in selected cinemas nationwide. Read more about the film here. Independent shortlisted for UK Sales Company Best International Campaign! Independent has been shortlisted for UK Sales Company Best International Campaign for AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY at this year's SCREEN Awards! Read more here: http://www.screenawards.co.uk/432006 INDEPENDENT are happy to announce BOXING DAY's World Premiere at Venice Film Festival! Boxing Day will have its World Premiere at Venice Film Festival competing in the Orizzonti Section. Produced by Luc Roeg’s Independent, Boxing Day is based on MASTER AND MAN by Leo Tolstoy and follows Ivansxtc and The Kreutzer Sonata as the third film in a trilogy of modern day interpretations of Tolstoy stories. The film centres around struggling businessman Basil and his chauffeur, Nick, as they drive in to the heart of the mountains to pursue a make-or-break property deal. As night falls and the weather worsens, the men become trapped and face an uncertain fate. About the film, director Bernard Rose says, “Boxing Day is adapted from Tolstoy’s MASTER and MAN, and follows the novella closely. Tolstoy’s title is allegorical - the Master is not who he thinks he is and the Man turns out to be plural.” Click here for more information on BOXING DAY or follow the film on Facebook |
