Exclusive: Happy Face has rounded out its series regular cast, adding Khiyla Aynne (Circuit Breakers) and Benjamin Mackey (The Morning Show) alongside Annaleigh Ashford, Dennis Quaid, James Wolk and Tamera Tomakili. David Harewood (Homeland) also joins the upcoming Paramount+ drama series in a recurring role. The series hails from creator and executive producer Jennifer Cacicio and executive producers Robert and Michelle King. Filming began this week in Vancouver. See Ashford’s Instagram announcement below.
Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa Moore; the Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.
In the series, jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, Happy Face (Quaid) is an incarcerated serial killer who also is Melissa’s (Ashford) once-beloved father. After decades of no contact, he finally finds a way to force himself back into his daughter’s life.
Happy Face is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa Moore; the Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.
In the series, jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, Happy Face (Quaid) is an incarcerated serial killer who also is Melissa’s (Ashford) once-beloved father. After decades of no contact, he finally finds a way to force himself back into his daughter’s life.
- 3/20/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Julia Ormond, Emma Draper, John Bach, Nancy Brunning, Cohen Holloway, Ava Keane, Gina Laverty | Written and Directed by Jake Mahaffy
Family reunions always seem to reveal skeletons in the closet, and Reunion is no different. What we get with this new horror though is a mystery and a ghost story that feels original and is well worth checking out.
When a pregnant women returns to her recently-deceased grandparents’ home to clear it out she finds her estranged mother is there waiting for her. With the house full of tension, it is not long before old ghosts from the past appear to push for the answer to a mystery from the past.
A haunted house movie that holds a mystery from the past is nothing new, but what is interesting is the mystery itself. The main character Ellie (Emma Draper) is a writer looking into witchcraft and its connection to modern science,...
Family reunions always seem to reveal skeletons in the closet, and Reunion is no different. What we get with this new horror though is a mystery and a ghost story that feels original and is well worth checking out.
When a pregnant women returns to her recently-deceased grandparents’ home to clear it out she finds her estranged mother is there waiting for her. With the house full of tension, it is not long before old ghosts from the past appear to push for the answer to a mystery from the past.
A haunted house movie that holds a mystery from the past is nothing new, but what is interesting is the mystery itself. The main character Ellie (Emma Draper) is a writer looking into witchcraft and its connection to modern science,...
- 4/8/2021
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Out now in theaters and on VOD / digital platforms is Reunion, starring Julia Ormond, and we have an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead readers!
"A pregnant woman returns to her recently deceased grandparents’ old family home to spend time with her estranged mother. What begins as a tenuous reunion slowly turns terrifying.
A psychological thriller that preys upon perception, Reunion sees veteran actress Julia Ormond deliver a tour-de-force performance of threateningly quiet intensity and features a twisty narrative that will burrow itself into the darkest corners of your mind."
Written and Directed by: Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed) Produced by: Nadia Maxwell, Ainsley Gardiner, Georgina Conder, Mike S. Ryan Cast: Julia Ormond (TV's The Walking Dead: World Beyond, My Week With Marilyn), Emma Draper (Wellington Paranormal), Cohen Holloway (Thor: Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows), Ava Keane (Daffodils), Gina Laverty (Wellington Paranormal), John Bach (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...
"A pregnant woman returns to her recently deceased grandparents’ old family home to spend time with her estranged mother. What begins as a tenuous reunion slowly turns terrifying.
A psychological thriller that preys upon perception, Reunion sees veteran actress Julia Ormond deliver a tour-de-force performance of threateningly quiet intensity and features a twisty narrative that will burrow itself into the darkest corners of your mind."
Written and Directed by: Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed) Produced by: Nadia Maxwell, Ainsley Gardiner, Georgina Conder, Mike S. Ryan Cast: Julia Ormond (TV's The Walking Dead: World Beyond, My Week With Marilyn), Emma Draper (Wellington Paranormal), Cohen Holloway (Thor: Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows), Ava Keane (Daffodils), Gina Laverty (Wellington Paranormal), John Bach (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...
- 2/5/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Tagline: "Every Family has a Legacy." Reunion is a family drama, with a horror element. In the film, a daughter returns to her family home. Here, she opens old wounds as her mother continues to malinger in this mansion. From director Jake Mahaffy (War), Reunion is set to see theatres in the United States, while debuting on Digital, in early February. As well, Reunion stars: Julia Ormond ("The Walking Dead: World Beyond"), Emma Draper (Wellington Paranormal) and Ava Keane. The film's official artwork is here, along with more details on the story. Shot in New Zealand, Reunion also shows the daughter being very pregnant. Tensions flare as childhood secrets are revealed. Also, the official artwork for Reunion is multi-layered. The stairs look like old film stock. The ghostly child shows how the film will play in both the past and present, with all of the characters appearing centrally. Reunion will show,...
- 1/28/2021
- by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
"When you get scared, just ring that and I'll be right there." Dark Sky Films has debuted an official trailer for a "psychological shocker" horror titled Reunion, from filmmaker Jake Mahaffy. This first premiered at the Nightstream Film Festival this fall, and it arrives on VOD in February. A pregnant woman returns to her recently-deceased grandparents' family home to spend time with her estranged mother. What begins as a reunion slowly turns terrifying. The film features Julia Ormond and Emma Draper, with John Bach, Nancy Brunning, and Cohen Holloway. It is built around a "tour-de-force performance of threateningly quiet intensity and features a twisty narrative that will burrow itself into the darkest corners of your mind." Scary. This is a super trippy trailer, with some intensely frightening camera angles and super creepy shots. Here's the official trailer (+ posters) for Jake Mahaffy's Reunion, direct from Dark Sky's YouTube: A pregnant...
- 12/23/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Due out in theaters and on VOD / digital platforms on February 5th is Reunion, starring Julia Ormond! Here's a look at the brand-new trailer:
"A pregnant woman returns to her recently deceased grandparents’ old family home to spend time with her estranged mother. What begins as a tenuous reunion slowly turns terrifying.
A psychological thriller that preys upon perception, Reunion sees veteran actress Julia Ormond deliver a tour-de-force performance of threateningly quiet intensity and features a twisty narrative that will burrow itself into the darkest corners of your mind."
Written and Directed by: Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed) Produced by: Nadia Maxwell, Ainsley Gardiner, Georgina Conder, Mike S. Ryan Cast: Julia Ormond (TV's The Walking Dead: World Beyond, My Week With Marilyn), Emma Draper (Wellington Paranormal), Cohen Holloway (Thor: Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows), Ava Keane (Daffodils), Gina Laverty (Wellington Paranormal), John Bach (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...
"A pregnant woman returns to her recently deceased grandparents’ old family home to spend time with her estranged mother. What begins as a tenuous reunion slowly turns terrifying.
A psychological thriller that preys upon perception, Reunion sees veteran actress Julia Ormond deliver a tour-de-force performance of threateningly quiet intensity and features a twisty narrative that will burrow itself into the darkest corners of your mind."
Written and Directed by: Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed) Produced by: Nadia Maxwell, Ainsley Gardiner, Georgina Conder, Mike S. Ryan Cast: Julia Ormond (TV's The Walking Dead: World Beyond, My Week With Marilyn), Emma Draper (Wellington Paranormal), Cohen Holloway (Thor: Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows), Ava Keane (Daffodils), Gina Laverty (Wellington Paranormal), John Bach (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...
- 12/22/2020
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
You know how when you are in the same place as your parents for a period of time, you will revert back to the dynamic that you had when you were a teenager? They will gradually step into the protective and/or controlling role and you will respond to it by becoming increasingly frustrated, pushing back and rebelling at every turn?
That is exactly where Ellie (Emma Draper) finds herself when she returns to her grandparents’ house after their deaths. Preparing for the birth of her own child, Ellie finds herself in close quarters with her doting mother, Ivy (Julia Ormond), as Ivy works to pack up the house, while also caring for her ailing husband.
From the moment Ellie arrives, we can sense the tension in this mother-daughter relationship. Ivy views her role as caretaker for Ellie, helping her along until the baby comes. Ellie puts up shields almost immediately,...
That is exactly where Ellie (Emma Draper) finds herself when she returns to her grandparents’ house after their deaths. Preparing for the birth of her own child, Ellie finds herself in close quarters with her doting mother, Ivy (Julia Ormond), as Ivy works to pack up the house, while also caring for her ailing husband.
From the moment Ellie arrives, we can sense the tension in this mother-daughter relationship. Ivy views her role as caretaker for Ellie, helping her along until the baby comes. Ellie puts up shields almost immediately,...
- 10/12/2020
- by Emily von Seele
- DailyDead
NewFest is hosting a reading of Ang Lee’s groundbreaking Brokeback Mountain at its New York LGBTQ Film Festival on October 18, employing an all-trans cast for the event that commemorates the film’s 15th anniversary.
The cast features Leo Sheng (The L Word) as Ennis, Brian Michael Smith (911: Lone Star) as Jack, Jen Richards (Tales of the City) as Alma, Alexandra Grey (Empire) as Lurleen and Disclosure director Sam Feder as the narrator.
The original film starred Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as Ennis and Jack, respectively, cowboys who meet in the summer of 1963 and forge an unexpected lifelong connection full of joy, complication and tragedy. It scored eight Oscar nominations and won three, including for Lee’s directing and Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana’s script.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to The NewFest Future Fund, to benefit the organization and its programs for LGBTQ+ youth, filmmaker resources,...
The cast features Leo Sheng (The L Word) as Ennis, Brian Michael Smith (911: Lone Star) as Jack, Jen Richards (Tales of the City) as Alma, Alexandra Grey (Empire) as Lurleen and Disclosure director Sam Feder as the narrator.
The original film starred Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as Ennis and Jack, respectively, cowboys who meet in the summer of 1963 and forge an unexpected lifelong connection full of joy, complication and tragedy. It scored eight Oscar nominations and won three, including for Lee’s directing and Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana’s script.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to The NewFest Future Fund, to benefit the organization and its programs for LGBTQ+ youth, filmmaker resources,...
- 10/2/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Helping to keep horror's bloody heart beating strongly in the era of Covid-19, the Overlook, Popcorn Frights, Boston Underground, Brooklyn Horror, and North Bend Film Festivals have united to form Nightstream. Taking place October 8th–11th, the virtual festival's full lineup of features, short films, panels, and special events has now been revealed, ensuring that online attendees will get their money's worth and then some at this online experience.
You can check out the exciting lineup below, and visit the virtual fest's official website for additional details, including how to secure badges!
Press Release: September 24, 2020 // -- Nightstream is thrilled to unveil its program of films and special events set to take place virtually next month. Formed as a banner uniting five US genre festivals — Boston Underground, Brooklyn Horror, North Bend, Overlook, and Popcorn Frights — who have all been affected by Covid-19, the initiative was first announced last month and will...
You can check out the exciting lineup below, and visit the virtual fest's official website for additional details, including how to secure badges!
Press Release: September 24, 2020 // -- Nightstream is thrilled to unveil its program of films and special events set to take place virtually next month. Formed as a banner uniting five US genre festivals — Boston Underground, Brooklyn Horror, North Bend, Overlook, and Popcorn Frights — who have all been affected by Covid-19, the initiative was first announced last month and will...
- 9/24/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Run, the Hulu original thriller starring Sarah Paulson, is set to open the virtual Nightstream genre film festival, organizers said Thursday.
Director Aneesh Chaganty’s horror pic portrays a wheelchair-bound teenager whose fragile, isolated existence with her doting mother is threatened when she begins to notice strange occurrences around her house. And the North American premiere of Quentin Dupieux’s Mandibles will close the first-time virtual festival.
The four-day Nightstream event, to launch Oct. 8, also has world premieres for Ryuhei Kitamura’s The Doorman, starring Ruby Rose; Devereux Milburn rural-horror Honeydew; Jesse Blanchard’s Frank & Zed; Nicholas Payne Santos’ It Cuts Deep; Jake Mahaffy’s Reunion; and Terence Krey’s ...
Director Aneesh Chaganty’s horror pic portrays a wheelchair-bound teenager whose fragile, isolated existence with her doting mother is threatened when she begins to notice strange occurrences around her house. And the North American premiere of Quentin Dupieux’s Mandibles will close the first-time virtual festival.
The four-day Nightstream event, to launch Oct. 8, also has world premieres for Ryuhei Kitamura’s The Doorman, starring Ruby Rose; Devereux Milburn rural-horror Honeydew; Jesse Blanchard’s Frank & Zed; Nicholas Payne Santos’ It Cuts Deep; Jake Mahaffy’s Reunion; and Terence Krey’s ...
- 9/24/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Run, the Hulu original thriller starring Sarah Paulson, is set to open the virtual Nightstream genre film festival, organizers said Thursday.
Director Aneesh Chaganty’s horror pic portrays a wheelchair-bound teenager whose fragile, isolated existence with her doting mother is threatened when she begins to notice strange occurrences around her house. And the North American premiere of Quentin Dupieux’s Mandibles will close the first-time virtual festival.
The four-day Nightstream event, to launch Oct. 8, also has world premieres for Ryuhei Kitamura’s The Doorman, starring Ruby Rose; Devereux Milburn rural-horror Honeydew; Jesse Blanchard’s Frank & Zed; Nicholas Payne Santos’ It Cuts Deep; Jake Mahaffy’s Reunion; and Terence Krey’s ...
Director Aneesh Chaganty’s horror pic portrays a wheelchair-bound teenager whose fragile, isolated existence with her doting mother is threatened when she begins to notice strange occurrences around her house. And the North American premiere of Quentin Dupieux’s Mandibles will close the first-time virtual festival.
The four-day Nightstream event, to launch Oct. 8, also has world premieres for Ryuhei Kitamura’s The Doorman, starring Ruby Rose; Devereux Milburn rural-horror Honeydew; Jesse Blanchard’s Frank & Zed; Nicholas Payne Santos’ It Cuts Deep; Jake Mahaffy’s Reunion; and Terence Krey’s ...
- 9/24/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Howards End and Legends of the Fall actress Julia Ormond is leading the cast of Jake Mahaffy’s upcoming thriller Reunion, reports ScreenDaily. The film tells the story of a mother and daughter packing up the old family home for sale, when tensions become supernatural the daughter must confront the trauma of her lineage. Ormond will star with Emma Draper, […]...
- 2/7/2019
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Project comes from The Breaker Upperers producers Ainsley Gardiner and Georgina Conder.
Howards End and Legends Of The Fall actress Julia Ormond is leading the cast of Jake Mahaffy’s upcoming thriller Reunion.
The project has begun principal photography in New Zealand’s capital Wellington. Ormond will star with Emma Draper, Cohen Holloway and John Bach.
The film tells the story of a mother and daughter packing up the old family home for sale, when tensions become supernatural the daughter must confront the trauma of her lineage.
Producers are Ainsley Gardiner and Georgina Conder, whose credits include The Breaker Upperers,...
Howards End and Legends Of The Fall actress Julia Ormond is leading the cast of Jake Mahaffy’s upcoming thriller Reunion.
The project has begun principal photography in New Zealand’s capital Wellington. Ormond will star with Emma Draper, Cohen Holloway and John Bach.
The film tells the story of a mother and daughter packing up the old family home for sale, when tensions become supernatural the daughter must confront the trauma of her lineage.
Producers are Ainsley Gardiner and Georgina Conder, whose credits include The Breaker Upperers,...
- 2/7/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Clare Anyiam-Osigwe’s No Shade, produced by the Festival, to open the event.
The 2018 British Urban Film Festival (June 4-9) has announced its line-up, hosts and awards today.
The festival will open with writer-director Clare Anyiam-Osigwe’s No Shade, about a British woman coming to terms with her relationships with men and her skintone, starring Adele Oni in her debut lead role. It is the first feature to be released by the Festival under its new Buff Originals slate.
The closing night film is the festival premiere of Harry Brown writer Gary Young’s directorial debut Two Graves, a revenge...
The 2018 British Urban Film Festival (June 4-9) has announced its line-up, hosts and awards today.
The festival will open with writer-director Clare Anyiam-Osigwe’s No Shade, about a British woman coming to terms with her relationships with men and her skintone, starring Adele Oni in her debut lead role. It is the first feature to be released by the Festival under its new Buff Originals slate.
The closing night film is the festival premiere of Harry Brown writer Gary Young’s directorial debut Two Graves, a revenge...
- 3/8/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Filmmaker readers first encountered the singular cinema of Jake Mahaffy back in 2005, when we placed him on our “25 New Faces” list on the basis of his extraordinary, Tarkovsky-esqure War, a post-collapse saga shot on a handcranked camera (and made years before post-collapse films and television became suddenly fashionable). On the basis of that film and the two features that have followed — including his latest, Free in Deed, currently in theaters (in New York, it’s playing Cinema Village) — Mahaffy has, in my opinion, staked out a quiet reputation as one of our most accomplished and necessary of […]...
- 9/13/2017
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
"Sometime we have to go through something to get through something." Gravitas Ventures has debuted the official Us trailer for an indie drama titled Free In Deed, which first premiered at the Venice Film Festival back in 2015. It also played at numerous film festivals in 2016, and is just now getting a very small release starting September this year. Free In Deed takes place in the world of converted storefront churches, following one man's attempt to perform a miracle. English actor David Harewood (from "Supergirl", "The Night Manager", "Homeland", The Brothers Grimsby) stars as a Pentecostal minister whose dedication to God is tested when approached by a desperate mother and her troubled son. The full cast includes Edwina Findley, Kathy Smith, and RaJay Chandler. This looks very powerful and entirely unique, worth a look. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Jake Mahaffy's Free In Deed, direct from YouTube: Set...
- 8/13/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Free In Deed, Chapter And Verse, Blue Hollywood to screen at London festival.
The British Urban Film Festival (Buff, Sept 6-12) has revealed its line-up for 2017.
Opening the festival will be writer-director Jake Mahaffy’s Free In Deed [pictured], about a Us church pastor with healing powers, which premiered at Venice in 2015. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with star David Harewood.
Further feature film screenings include Jamal Joseph’s Chapter And Verse, about a reformed gang leader in Harlem. Director Joseph (a former Black Panther) and star Daniel Beaty will attend a Q&A after the event.
The festival will also feature Francesco Gabriele’s Blue Hollywood, Gillian Scott-Ward’s documentary Back To Natural, and documentary Stay Woke, which profiles the Black Lives Matter movement.
Further screenings include two African features: Colin Perry’s documentary Black Stars Of Highlife and Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s rom-com Potato Potahto.
A masterclass...
The British Urban Film Festival (Buff, Sept 6-12) has revealed its line-up for 2017.
Opening the festival will be writer-director Jake Mahaffy’s Free In Deed [pictured], about a Us church pastor with healing powers, which premiered at Venice in 2015. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with star David Harewood.
Further feature film screenings include Jamal Joseph’s Chapter And Verse, about a reformed gang leader in Harlem. Director Joseph (a former Black Panther) and star Daniel Beaty will attend a Q&A after the event.
The festival will also feature Francesco Gabriele’s Blue Hollywood, Gillian Scott-Ward’s documentary Back To Natural, and documentary Stay Woke, which profiles the Black Lives Matter movement.
Further screenings include two African features: Colin Perry’s documentary Black Stars Of Highlife and Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s rom-com Potato Potahto.
A masterclass...
- 8/8/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” and Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” lead with six Indie Spirit bids apiece, followed by Kenneth Lonergan‘s “Manchester By the Sea” at five. A trio of films — Jake Mahaffy‘s “Free in Deed,” Pablo Larrain‘s “Jackie” and Chris Kelly‘s “Other People” — have four each. Winners of the 32nd annual edition of these awards will be […]...
- 2/25/2017
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Independent Spirit Award Nominee Edwina Findley Dickerson Talks Well-Acted, Traumatic ‘Free in Deed’
There’s a lot to like in “Free in Deed,” a well-acted, unrelentingly dour experiment in atmosphere, setting and sound that will captivate you throughout. Meticulous in its attention to authenticity, the Memphis, Tn-set film, assuredly-directed by Jake Mahaffy, fictionalizes the 2003… Continue Reading →...
- 1/31/2017
- by Tambay Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Jenny Slate and Edgar Ramirez unveiled the nominations for the 2017 Independent Spirit Awards today at Los Angeles’s W Hollywood Hotel. As always, many of the most heralded independent films of the year scored multiple nominations, including Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, Pablo Larrain’s Jackie and Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester by the Sea. All these pictures were nominated for Best Picture as well as receiving nominations in several other categories. But one film that has yet to receive distribution in the States — Free in Deed, by 25 New Face Jake Mahaffy — also received many nods, including Best […]...
- 11/22/2016
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Nominations for the 32nd annual edition of the Independent Spirit Awards were announced on Nov. 22. Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” and Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” lead with six bids apiece, followed by Kenneth Lonergan‘s “Manchester By the Sea” at five. A trio of films — Jake Mahaffy‘s “Free in Deed,” Pablo Larrain‘s “Jackie” and Chris Kelly‘s “Other People” — have four each. The […]...
- 11/22/2016
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
– Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest has unveiled its final wave of programming with a giant-sized round up of the wildest films from across the planet. Opening the announcement and closing out the festival is the triumphant return of Fantastic Fest’s Karaoke King Nacho Vigalondo with his kaiju monster mash-up “Colossal,” starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis. Other standouts include “A Monster Calls,” “Headshot,” “The Lure,” “My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea” and a special sneak peek at the new “Westworld” series.
The festival will open with “Arrival,” and you can check out other additions to the slate here and here.
The festival runs from September 22 – 29. You can check out more information at the festival’s official website.
– The sixth annual Napa Valley Film Festival...
– Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest has unveiled its final wave of programming with a giant-sized round up of the wildest films from across the planet. Opening the announcement and closing out the festival is the triumphant return of Fantastic Fest’s Karaoke King Nacho Vigalondo with his kaiju monster mash-up “Colossal,” starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis. Other standouts include “A Monster Calls,” “Headshot,” “The Lure,” “My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea” and a special sneak peek at the new “Westworld” series.
The festival will open with “Arrival,” and you can check out other additions to the slate here and here.
The festival runs from September 22 – 29. You can check out more information at the festival’s official website.
– The sixth annual Napa Valley Film Festival...
- 9/8/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Premiering at the 2015 Venice Film Festival in the Horizons sidebar, Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro’s exceptional sophomore feature Neon Bull won the Special Jury prize of its section before competing in the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival’s first ever Platform competition, where it secured a Special Mention (interestingly, both juries awarded top prizes to films obviously fixated on stagnating social injustices, including Jake Mahaffy’s Free in Deed and Alan Zeig’s documentary Hurt).
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
- 8/30/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
★★★★☆ Loosely based on real-life reports of a pastor in Tennessee who was convicted of child abuse after an attempted exorcism on an eight-year-old boy, Jake Mahaffy's Free in Deed is a chilling study of unwavering faith in the face of mounting adversity. Free in Deed takes the viewer deep into the world of store-front churches. Once a source of social and spiritual refugee for many African-Americans during the Jim Crow era, these unassuming houses of worship continue to play a major role in the lives of marginalised families.
- 6/3/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
After shooting a number of well-regarded shorts, including former SXSW selection Sequin Raze and Picturing Barbara Kruger, Ava Berkofsky makes her impressive dramatic feature cinematography debut with one of the most bracing movies on this year’s independent circuit, Free in Deed. The third feature from 2005 Filmmaker 25 New Face Jake Mahaffy, it’s a probing and at times assaultive story inspired by a real-life tragedy: the death of a young boy at the hands of a religious faith healer. Berkofsky’s fluid, expressionistic lensing brings the mental turmoil of the film’s characters — the healer, the boy, and the boy’s distraught, […]...
- 3/13/2016
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Simply put, the SXSW Film, Music and Interactive Festival is one of the biggest, most prestigious events in the media calendar. Taking place annually in Austin, Texas, it is beloved by film fans and filmmakers from all over the world, and has reached such heights by building a reputation for showcasing excellent content. This results in a high level of competition, with the Narrative Feature category alone having received 1442 submissions this year, and the documentary feature category having received 1,013.
The 2016 event looks to be particularly exciting, with many world premieres and feature debuts already announced. The Narrative Feature category will include Julia Hart’s Miss Stevens, Debra Eisenstadt’s Before The Sun Explodes, Joey Klein’s The Other Half, and Musa Syeed’s A Stray, among others, while the Headliner category will feature Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some.
The Narrative Spotlight category includes 9 Rides by Matthew A. Cherry; The Waiting...
The 2016 event looks to be particularly exciting, with many world premieres and feature debuts already announced. The Narrative Feature category will include Julia Hart’s Miss Stevens, Debra Eisenstadt’s Before The Sun Explodes, Joey Klein’s The Other Half, and Musa Syeed’s A Stray, among others, while the Headliner category will feature Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some.
The Narrative Spotlight category includes 9 Rides by Matthew A. Cherry; The Waiting...
- 2/10/2016
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Announced today, "Free in Deed' will make its North American premiere at the AFI Fest in the World Cinema section, screening November 8th and 9th. For more info and tickets visit: http://www.afi.com/afifest/passes.aspx. *** There's a lot to like in "Free in Deed," a well-acted, unrelentingly dour experiment in atmosphere, setting and sound that will captivate you throughout. Meticulous in its attention to authenticity, the Memphis, Tn-set film, assuredly-directed by Jake Mahaffy, fictionalizes the 2003 accidental death of a child during what was supposed to be a miraculous Pentecostal healing service, concentrating on a humble, predominantly African American...
- 10/22/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
The American Film Institute announced today the films that will screen in the World Cinema, Breakthrough, Midnight, Shorts and Cinema’s Legacy programs at AFI Fest 2015 presented by Audi.
AFI Fest will take place November 5 – 12, 2015, in the heart of Hollywood. Screenings, Galas and events will be held at the historic Tcl Chinese Theatre, the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres, Dolby Theatre, the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, the El Capitan Theatre and The Hollywood Roosevelt.
World Cinema showcases the most acclaimed international films of the year; Breakthrough highlights true discoveries of the programming process; Midnight selections will grip audiences with terror; and Cinema’s Legacy highlights classic movies and films about cinema. World Cinema and Breakthrough selections are among the films eligible for Audience Awards. Shorts selections are eligible for the Grand Jury Prize, which qualifies the winner for Academy Award®consideration. This year’s Shorts jury features filmmaker Janicza Bravo,...
AFI Fest will take place November 5 – 12, 2015, in the heart of Hollywood. Screenings, Galas and events will be held at the historic Tcl Chinese Theatre, the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres, Dolby Theatre, the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, the El Capitan Theatre and The Hollywood Roosevelt.
World Cinema showcases the most acclaimed international films of the year; Breakthrough highlights true discoveries of the programming process; Midnight selections will grip audiences with terror; and Cinema’s Legacy highlights classic movies and films about cinema. World Cinema and Breakthrough selections are among the films eligible for Audience Awards. Shorts selections are eligible for the Grand Jury Prize, which qualifies the winner for Academy Award®consideration. This year’s Shorts jury features filmmaker Janicza Bravo,...
- 10/22/2015
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Full line-up of the Stockholm film festival includes feature and documentary competition line-ups.Scroll down for full line-up
The Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 11-22) has unveiled the line-up for its 26th edition, comprising more than 190 films from over 70 countries.
The Stockholm Xxvi Competition includes Marielle Heller’s Us title The Diary of a Teenage Girl and László Nemes’ Holocaust drama Son Of Saul.
It marks the first time Stockholm has a greater number of women than men competing for the Bronze Horse – the festival’s top prize.
The documentary competition includes Amy Berg’s An Open Secret, an investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry; and Cosima Spender’s Palio, centred on the annual horse race in Siena, Italy.
Announcing the programme, festival director Git Scheynius also revealed that Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will visit Stockholm for the first time as chairman of the jury for the first Stockholm Impact Award, which...
The Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 11-22) has unveiled the line-up for its 26th edition, comprising more than 190 films from over 70 countries.
The Stockholm Xxvi Competition includes Marielle Heller’s Us title The Diary of a Teenage Girl and László Nemes’ Holocaust drama Son Of Saul.
It marks the first time Stockholm has a greater number of women than men competing for the Bronze Horse – the festival’s top prize.
The documentary competition includes Amy Berg’s An Open Secret, an investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry; and Cosima Spender’s Palio, centred on the annual horse race in Siena, Italy.
Announcing the programme, festival director Git Scheynius also revealed that Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will visit Stockholm for the first time as chairman of the jury for the first Stockholm Impact Award, which...
- 10/20/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
David Harewood as Abe in Free In Deed. Jake Mahaffy: 'I grew up in a religious pentecostal-style environment and then fully de-converted so I’m familiar with the worldview and the language' Jake Mahaffy's third feature Free In Deed won the Orizzonti (Horizons) award for Best Film at Venice Film Festival last weekend. The film tells the story of single mum Melva (Edwina Findley) and her family, particularly, her son Benny (RaJay Chandler), whose severe autism - which leaves him hyper-sensitive and frequently in pain - makes it difficult for her and her young daughter Etta (Zoe Lewis) to cope. Struggling to find solutions from doctors, an unexpected encounter sees Melva welcomed by the church. It is there that she meets self-styled faith healer Abe (Homeland's David Harewood), an encounter that will profoundly change the course of all their lives. Mahaffy paints a melancholic, non-sensationalist portrait of pain,...
- 9/17/2015
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
There's a lot to like in "Free in Deed," a well-acted, unrelentingly dour experiment in atmosphere, setting and sound that will captivate you throughout. Meticulous in its attention to authenticity, the Memphis, Tn-set film, assuredly-directed by Jake Mahaffy, fictionalizes the 2003 accidental death of a child during what was supposed to be a miraculous Pentecostal healing service, concentrating on a humble, predominantly African American church community where faith healings are seemingly routine. At the center of the consternation are Abe (David Harewood) and Melva (Edwina Findley), a deeply affecting pair - two tormented but steadfast souls striking...
- 9/13/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
The red carpet has been walked upon, the Spritz has been supped and the lion has roared. This year's Golden Lion selection is yet another surprise choice, the perfectly serviceable but by no means extraordinary Venezuelan-set drama From Afar, which follows the unlikely relationship between a maker of false teeth and a Caracas street tough. Lorenzo Vigas' film is an assured debut with two fine performances, especially from Alfredo Castro, familiar to world cinema-inclined audiences as Pablo Larraín's muse in Tony Manero and Post Mortem. Head of the Jury Alfonso Cuarón perhaps shows his generosity to another Latin American filmmaker in awarding the Silver Lion to Pablo Trapero for his Martin Scorsese-inspired true crime thriller The Clan.
The runner-up award in the Grand Jury was awarded to Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson for their superb R-rated stop motion masterpiece Anomalisa, for me the best film of the competition.
The runner-up award in the Grand Jury was awarded to Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson for their superb R-rated stop motion masterpiece Anomalisa, for me the best film of the competition.
- 9/13/2015
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Anomalisa wins Grand Jury Prize; Robert Pattinson-starrer The Childhood Of A Leader wins best debut.Scroll down for full list of winners
From Afar (Desde Alla), the first Venezuelan production to appear in Competition at the Venice Film Festival, has won the Golden Lion for Best Film.
The directorial debut of Lorenzo Vigas concerns a middle-aged man (Alfredo Castro) who pays young boys to spend time with him. One day he befriends an 18-year-old delinquent (Luis Silva), a development that affects both profoundly.
The film, sold by Celluloid Dreams, is produced by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga, who co-wrote the script.
The Silver Lion for Best Director went to Argentinian film-maker Pablo Trapero for kidnap drama The Clan (El Clan).
Trapero has a good relationship with Venice, having won two prizes for his 1999 debut, Crane World, returning in 2004 with Rolling Family and sitting on the Golden Lion jury in 2012.
The Clan is based on the real-life exploits...
From Afar (Desde Alla), the first Venezuelan production to appear in Competition at the Venice Film Festival, has won the Golden Lion for Best Film.
The directorial debut of Lorenzo Vigas concerns a middle-aged man (Alfredo Castro) who pays young boys to spend time with him. One day he befriends an 18-year-old delinquent (Luis Silva), a development that affects both profoundly.
The film, sold by Celluloid Dreams, is produced by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga, who co-wrote the script.
The Silver Lion for Best Director went to Argentinian film-maker Pablo Trapero for kidnap drama The Clan (El Clan).
Trapero has a good relationship with Venice, having won two prizes for his 1999 debut, Crane World, returning in 2004 with Rolling Family and sitting on the Golden Lion jury in 2012.
The Clan is based on the real-life exploits...
- 9/12/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The Jury for the Venezia 72 Competition, presided over by Alfonso Cuarón and including Elizabeth Banks, Emmanuel Carrère, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Diane Kruger, Francesco Munzi, Pawel Pawlikowski and Lynne Ramsay, has presented the Golden Lion to Lorenzo Vigas's From Afar. Jonathan Demme's jury has given the best film in the Horizons program to Jake Mahaffy's Free in Deed. And Brady Corbet's The Childhood of a Leader comes away with two awards. We've got the complete list of awards—from the festival and from a slew of independent juries. » - David Hudson...
- 9/12/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
The Jury for the Venezia 72 Competition, presided over by Alfonso Cuarón and including Elizabeth Banks, Emmanuel Carrère, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Diane Kruger, Francesco Munzi, Pawel Pawlikowski and Lynne Ramsay, has presented the Golden Lion to Lorenzo Vigas's From Afar. Jonathan Demme's jury has given the best film in the Horizons program to Jake Mahaffy's Free in Deed. And Brady Corbet's The Childhood of a Leader comes away with two awards. We've got the complete list of awards—from the festival and from a slew of independent juries. » - David Hudson...
- 9/12/2015
- Keyframe
Venezuelan filmmaker Lorenzo Vigas' "From Afar" has taken the top prize of the Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival which comes to a close this weekend.
"From Afar" follows a middle-aged gay man (Alfred Castro) who cruises the streets of Caracas searching for young companions. Luis Silva also stars.
Alfonso Cuaron led the jury which handed the Silver Lion to Pablo Trapero 's "The Clan," the Grand Jury Prize to Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson's "Anomalisa," and a Special Jury Prize to Emin Alper's "Frenzy".
Other awards include Fabrice Luchini ("L’Hermine") for best actor, Valeria Golino ("Per Amor Vostro") for best actress, and Christian Vincent ("L'Hermine") for best screenplay.
In the 'Venice Horizons' sub-category, Jake Mahaffy's "Free In Deed" took best film while Gabriel Mascaro's "Neon Bull" scored a Special Jury Prize. Brady Corbet's "The Childhood Of A Leader" scored a best...
"From Afar" follows a middle-aged gay man (Alfred Castro) who cruises the streets of Caracas searching for young companions. Luis Silva also stars.
Alfonso Cuaron led the jury which handed the Silver Lion to Pablo Trapero 's "The Clan," the Grand Jury Prize to Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson's "Anomalisa," and a Special Jury Prize to Emin Alper's "Frenzy".
Other awards include Fabrice Luchini ("L’Hermine") for best actor, Valeria Golino ("Per Amor Vostro") for best actress, and Christian Vincent ("L'Hermine") for best screenplay.
In the 'Venice Horizons' sub-category, Jake Mahaffy's "Free In Deed" took best film while Gabriel Mascaro's "Neon Bull" scored a Special Jury Prize. Brady Corbet's "The Childhood Of A Leader" scored a best...
- 9/12/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
"God only gives us as much suffering as we can bear," is just one of the very untrue, but deeply held beliefs that characterize Jake Mahaffy's evocation of a borderline unbearable true-life tragedy, "Free In Deed." A bracing, bruising corrective to the "faith-based filmmaking" movement, the New Zealand-born director's third film, set in and shot on location in Tennessee, tells the tortured real-life story of a 2003 faith healing attempt that led to the death of a child. While the conclusion by the ending — that no merciful God could possibly be responsible for such cruelty, so He's either unjust, indifferent, or non-existent — feels undeniably clear, the film is refreshingly free of the kind of judgments that a wholehearted atheist might make of those who believe. Instead, faith is portrayed as an understandable last place of refuge for those who have been abandoned by the mechanisms of human society, a literal hail mary move.
- 9/12/2015
- by Jessica Kiang
- The Playlist
The fourth edition of Sala Web, the “virtual festival” at the Venice Film Festival, which kicked last week (September 2-12), includes the David Harewood and Edwina Findley indie drama titled "Free In Deed," from writer/director Jake Mahaffy, which is based on a true story, and which is apparently making its world premiere there. In the film, Harewood plays a man who brings a small congregation together in order to perform the miraculous healing of an 8-year-old autistic child. Findley plays the boy’s mother. Words for the director on the project, which tells us more about the story the film tells: "How can a man crush a child to death, while...
- 9/11/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
The lineup for the fourth edition of Sala Web, the “virtual festival” at the Venice Film Festival, which kicked off yesterday (September 2-12), includes the David Harewood and Edwina Findley indie drama titled "Free In Deed," from writer/director Jake Mahaffy, which is based on a true story, and which is apparently making its world premiere there. In the film, Harewood plays a man who brings a small congregation together in order to perform the miraculous healing of an 8-year-old autistic child. Findley plays the boy’s mother. It's a project we've been tracking for at least a couple of years now, and I'm glad to see it finally making its official...
- 9/3/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Smack dab in the middle of the fall film fest season, the Venice Film Festival via Sala Web screening room (September 3rd to 16th) will be serving up fifteen offerings (12 feature films in the Orizzonti Competition and 3 feature films from the Biennale College) for the streaming VOD platform set up by the Festival Scope folks. Among the titles that lovers of world cinema will have the unique opportunity to see the likes of Italian Gangsters from helmer Renato De Maria (Tiff preemed La prima linea) and Jake Mahaffy’s long-awaited sophomore film, Free in Deed (see pic above). The films will be made available for five days after the films have premiere screenings at the festival. You can view all the films listed below and grab your tickets at the official Festival Scope channel.
Orizzonti Films
Neon Bull (Boi Neon), by Gabriel Mascaro – From September 3rd
Brazil, Uruguay, Netherlands; 101’ Portuguese
Iremar works at the Vaquejadas,...
Orizzonti Films
Neon Bull (Boi Neon), by Gabriel Mascaro – From September 3rd
Brazil, Uruguay, Netherlands; 101’ Portuguese
Iremar works at the Vaquejadas,...
- 8/18/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Venice’s “virtual festival” will feature 15 world premieres this year.Scroll Down For Full List
The fourth edition of Sala Web, the “virtual festival” at the Venice Film Festival (September 2-12), has revealed it’s line-up for 2015.
This year’s selection of films includes 15 world premieres: 12 from the Orizzonti Competition and three features from the Biennale College, Venice’s laboratory that supports micro-budget films.
Directors having their films featured include Merzak Allouache (The Rooftops), Jake Mahaffy (Wellness) and Gabriel Mascaro (August Winds), as well as numerous first-time filmmakers.
The selected films will again be streaming on VOD platform Festival Scope and will be available for five days after the films have premiere screenings at the festival.
Full list:
Synopses provided by Venice Film Festival
Orizzonti Films
Neon Bull (Boi Neon) dir. Gabriel Mascaro
Brazil, Uruguay, Netherlands; 101’ Portuguese
(Available from September 3)
Iremar works at the Vaquejadas, a rodeo in the Northeast of Brazil, where two men...
The fourth edition of Sala Web, the “virtual festival” at the Venice Film Festival (September 2-12), has revealed it’s line-up for 2015.
This year’s selection of films includes 15 world premieres: 12 from the Orizzonti Competition and three features from the Biennale College, Venice’s laboratory that supports micro-budget films.
Directors having their films featured include Merzak Allouache (The Rooftops), Jake Mahaffy (Wellness) and Gabriel Mascaro (August Winds), as well as numerous first-time filmmakers.
The selected films will again be streaming on VOD platform Festival Scope and will be available for five days after the films have premiere screenings at the festival.
Full list:
Synopses provided by Venice Film Festival
Orizzonti Films
Neon Bull (Boi Neon) dir. Gabriel Mascaro
Brazil, Uruguay, Netherlands; 101’ Portuguese
(Available from September 3)
Iremar works at the Vaquejadas, a rodeo in the Northeast of Brazil, where two men...
- 8/18/2015
- ScreenDaily
Sala Web will screen films through the festival Titles screening in the fourth edition of Sala Web at Venice Festival have been announced. The screening room of the festival will run from September 3 to 16, showcasing 12 feature films from the Orizzonti Competition and three feature films from the Biennale College, Venice’s own laboratory dedicated to support micro-budget films.
The Orizzonti Competition line-up includes established filmmakers such as Merzak Allouache (The Rooftops, The Repentant), and Jake Mahaffy (Wellness), along with first-feature directors, including Anita Rocha Da Silveira, Hada Mogar and Yorgos Zois. Other highlights are the new films by Gabriel Mascaro (August Winds) and Vetri Maaran, who will present the first film in Tamil to screen in Venice.
This edition of Sala Web will feature titles from 20 countries, including Brazil, Greece, Israel, Mexico, China, USA and France.
Strong women dealing with politics in Iran (Wednesday, May 9), a teenager dealing with a...
The Orizzonti Competition line-up includes established filmmakers such as Merzak Allouache (The Rooftops, The Repentant), and Jake Mahaffy (Wellness), along with first-feature directors, including Anita Rocha Da Silveira, Hada Mogar and Yorgos Zois. Other highlights are the new films by Gabriel Mascaro (August Winds) and Vetri Maaran, who will present the first film in Tamil to screen in Venice.
This edition of Sala Web will feature titles from 20 countries, including Brazil, Greece, Israel, Mexico, China, USA and France.
Strong women dealing with politics in Iran (Wednesday, May 9), a teenager dealing with a...
- 8/17/2015
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Jake Mahaffy appeared on Filmmaker‘s 25 New Faces list in 2005 following his Tarkovsky-esque black-and-white (shot on a hand cranked camera, no less) tale of American collapse, War. His very different 2008 feature Wellness won the Grand Prize at SXSW and now, seven years later, Mmhaffy is back with the Venice-premiering Free in Deed. Produced by Mike Ryan, it’s easily the film I’m anticipating most on the Fall festival circuit. From the film’s Facebook page: Set in the distinctive world of storefront churches and based on actual events, Free in Deed depicts one man’s attempts to perform a miracle. When […]...
- 8/3/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Jake Mahaffy appeared on Filmmaker‘s 25 New Faces list in 2005 following his Tarkovsky-esque black-and-white (shot on a hand cranked camera, no less) tale of American collapse, War. His very different 2008 feature Wellness won the Grand Prize at SXSW and now, seven years later, Mmhaffy is back with the Venice-premiering Free in Deed. Produced by Mike Ryan, it’s easily the film I’m anticipating most on the Fall festival circuit. From the film’s Facebook page: Set in the distinctive world of storefront churches and based on actual events, Free in Deed depicts one man’s attempts to perform a miracle. When […]...
- 8/3/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
The full lineup for the Venice Film Festival has been revealed, and includes new films by Martin Scorsese, Jerzy Skolimowsky, Frederick Wiseman, Marco Bellocchio, Tsai Ming-liang, Aleksandro Sokurov and more.CompetitionFrenzy (Emin Alper, Turkey/France/Qatar)Heart of a Dog (Laurie Anderson, Us)Blood of My Blood (Marco Bellocchio, Italy)Looking for Grace (Sue Brooks, Australia)Equals (Drake Doremus, Us)Remember (Atom Egoyan, Canada/Germany)Beasts of No Nation (Cary Fukunaga, Us)Per amor vostro (Giuseppe M. Gaudino, Italy/France)Marguerite (Xavier Giannoli, France/Czech Republic/Belgium)Rabin, the Last Day (Amos Gitai, Israel/France)A Bigger Splash (Luca Guadagnino, Italy/France)The Endless River (Oliver Hermanus, South Africa/France)The Danish Girl (Tom Hooper, UK/Us)Anomalisa (Charlie Kaufman/Duke Johnson, Us)L'attesa (Piero Mesina, Italy)11 Minutes (Jerzy Skolimowski, Poland)Francofonia (Aleksandr Sokurov, France/Germany/Netherlands)The Clan (Pablo Trapero, Argentina/Spain)Desde alla (Lorenza Vigas, Venezuela/Mexico)L'hermine (Christian Vincent,...
- 8/1/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
Back to back mid-summer Xmas mornings with the rollout of major premiere titles at Tiff and now the full line-up for Venice means we’re now carefully dissecting the numerous films announced with our first focus going down the list at the treasure trove of items in the Horizons Section, otherwise known as Orizzonti. Names that pop out of the group of eighteen include Danish helmer Tobias Lindholm‘s heavily anticipated third feature film, A War. Re-teaming with actor Pilou Asbæk in just as many outings, R (2010) and A Hijacking (2012) are part of his already stacked early filmography, this is about a solider stationed in Afghanistan and finds himself caught in a catch-22 type of situation.
Another highly anticipated film (our Nicholas Bell slotted it at #33) which posits a person in a life or death type of situation is Nicolas Saada‘s sophomore film. Based on true horrific events, set...
Another highly anticipated film (our Nicholas Bell slotted it at #33) which posits a person in a life or death type of situation is Nicolas Saada‘s sophomore film. Based on true horrific events, set...
- 7/29/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
On the heels of yesterday's Toronto Film Festival announcement, this morning we get the lineup for the 2015 Venice Film Festival and, as always, there's a little crossover with some films set to premiere on the Lido ahead of their Toronto (and/or Telluride premieres). Some of the titles not screening at Toronto (at least not yet) that will premiere at Venice include Baltasar Kormakur's Everest, which is serving as the opening night film, Drake Doremus' Equals starring Kristen Stewart, A Bigger Splash from Luca Guadagnino, Go With Me directed by Daniel Alfredson, Dito Montiel's Man Down, Amy Berg's Janis as well as a new, 16-minute short film from Martin Scorsese titled The Audition and a Brian De Palma documentary directed by Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow. There's also buzz building for The Childhood of a Leader directed by Brady Corbet and starring Robert Pattinson and Berenice Bejo.
- 7/29/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Venice Film Festival has become one of the longest-running events on the festival circuit, its veteran status giving it a level of prestige that has only been heightened by the films that have screened at the event. Having first started in 1932, a number of movies that have gone on to be classics have won prizes at the festival, including Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, Satyajit Ray’s Aparajito, and Alain Resnais’ Last Year at Marienbad. Interest in the festival’s lineup announcement has thus grown over the years, with many film fans curious to see what the organisers select to play at the event, due to its stature. The full lineup for the 2015 incarnation of the festival, the 72nd one in the festival’s history, has now been announced. The festival itself will run from September 2nd to the 12th, with a jury that includes Alfonso Cuarón, Nuri Bilge Ceylan,...
- 7/29/2015
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
The Danish Girl, starring Eddie Redmayne, and Atom Egoyan’s Remember among the 21 competition titles.Scroll down for full line-up
The 72nd Venice Film Festival (Sept 2-12) has unveiled the 55 features – mixing star vehicles and international auteurs – that will make up this year’s official selection.
Venice director Alberto Barbera and Biennale president Paolo Baratta announced the line-up this morning.
As previously announced, Baltasar Kormakur’s mountaineering thriller Everest, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, will open the festival on Sept 2. The Universal release will play out of competition.
Birdman, last year’s opening night film, went on to be named best picture at this year’s Academy Awards, while multiple Oscar-winner Gravity bowed at the 2013 edition.
Venice also revealed that Guan Hu’s Mr Six will close the festival on Sept 12. Feng Xiaogang plays the title character, a former gangster living alone with various illnesses, who is tempted back into the business by his son.
Competition titles...
The 72nd Venice Film Festival (Sept 2-12) has unveiled the 55 features – mixing star vehicles and international auteurs – that will make up this year’s official selection.
Venice director Alberto Barbera and Biennale president Paolo Baratta announced the line-up this morning.
As previously announced, Baltasar Kormakur’s mountaineering thriller Everest, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, will open the festival on Sept 2. The Universal release will play out of competition.
Birdman, last year’s opening night film, went on to be named best picture at this year’s Academy Awards, while multiple Oscar-winner Gravity bowed at the 2013 edition.
Venice also revealed that Guan Hu’s Mr Six will close the festival on Sept 12. Feng Xiaogang plays the title character, a former gangster living alone with various illnesses, who is tempted back into the business by his son.
Competition titles...
- 7/29/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Heavy would be the word that best describes the majority of shorts playing the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. The 60 shorts selected from 8,061 submissions tend toward longish running times and meaty subject matter. Consequently, there isn't an overabundance of light-hearted audience pleasers or flat-out comedies to be found among the festival's eight short film programs. Here (in alphabetical order) is a preview of five shorts most likely to generate positive buzz among Park City ticket holders -- plus a bonus sixth film available for online viewing right now. These films might not be weighted down with enough gravitas to walk away with awards at the festival's conclusion, but the filmmakers display so much talent and verve that you can bet they're going to be making truly excellent films for years to come. "A.D. 1363, The End of Chivalry" New Zealand-based American filmmaker Jake Mahaffy clearly had fun creating this two-and-a-half minute adventure story.
- 1/19/2015
- by Kim Adelman
- Indiewire
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