IFC To Make Independent Films Available To Watch Instantly on Netflix
[Press Release]
IFC ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS DEAL TO MAKE INDEPENDENT FILMS AVAILABLE TO BE WATCHED INSTANTLY AT NETFLIX
IFC Entertainment Titles Available Include American Independent, Documentary and World Cinema Titles, With Films by John Sayles, Errol Morris, Susanne Bier, Christopher Nolan, Catherine Breillat, James Toback, Rebecca Miller and Hirokazu Kore-Eda
NEW YORK, November 20, 2009 – In a move designed to increase the reach of independent cinema, IFC Entertainment, one of the leading distributors of independent and foreign films, and Netflix, the world’s largest online movie rental service, today announced a partnership that gives Netflix U.S. rights to 53 unique titles from IFC Entertainment. Through this agreement select titles from IFC Entertainment’s eclectic library of independent films will become available to be streamed instantly to televisions and computers via the Netflix service. The deal was announced jointly by Lisa Schwartz, executive vice president for IFC Entertainment, and Robert Kyncl, vice president of content acquisition for Netflix.
THE FINAL To Be Included In HorrorFest 4
[Press Release - Released by After Dark Films]
AFTER DARK FILMS ANNOUNCES SIXTH FILM TO BE INCLUDED IN HORRORFEST 4
The Final joins the most recent edition of After Dark Horrorfest: 8 Films to Die For® Lineup
Los Angeles, CA (November 13, 2009) — After Dark Films CEO Courtney Solomon has announced that After Dark has acquired the teen revenge thriller The Final after inking a deal with Agora Entertainment. The film is the sixth title to be included in After Dark's latest installment of Horrorfest: 8 Films to Die For. Joey Stewart makes his directorial debut working from a script written by Jason Kabolati. The film stars Marc Donato (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Jascha Washington, Whitney Hoy, Lindsay Seidel and Justin Arnold. Jason Kabolati of Agora Entertainment produced while Edward Lewis Von Hohn and Bill Randle served as executive producers on the film.
In The Final, the scenic Workley Ranch in Rocky Branch, TX, becomes the setting for retribution and revenge. In the midst of a wild costume party, five previously powerless and picked upon students are giving a "Final Exam" with just one question: "What did you do to deserve this?"
"This haunting and vengeful film is a perfect addition to this year's line-up. Anyone who has experienced the difficulties of high school will find themselves empathizing with both the nerds and the popular kids alike", stated After Dark EVP Stephanie Caleb.
Martin Scorsese To Receive Cecil B. DeMille Award at 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards
[Press Release - Released by NBC]
MARTIN SCORSESE WILL RECEIVE HFPA's CECIL B. DeMILLE AWARD AT "67th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS" TO BE TELECAST LIVE ON NBC JAN. 17
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - November 11, 2009 - Martin Scorsese will be honored at "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards" on January 17 with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field." The award, voted by the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, was announced by Vera Farmiga at a morning press conference. Ricky Gervais will host "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards," which will be broadcast live coast to coast on NBC (5 to 8 pm PT, 8 to 11 pm ET) from The Beverly Hilton.
Scorsese received two Golden Globe Awards for "Best Director of a Motion Picture"; for "The Departed" and "Gangs of New York." He received five additional Golden Globe nominations, including four as Best Director ("Casino," "Age of Innocence," "Goodfellas," and Raging Bull") and one for Best Screenplay for "Raging Bull" (with Nicolas Pileggi).
Recent Cecil B. DeMille winners include Steven Spielberg (2009), Warren Beatty (2007), Anthony Hopkins (2006), Robin Williams (2005) and Michael Douglas (2004).
Spider-Man Broadway - Reeve Carney To Play Peter Parker
[Press Release]
SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark NEW PRODUCING TEAM ANNOUNCES FUTURE PLANS REEVE CARNEY TO PLAY PETER PARKER
The producing team of the Broadway-bound SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark met with the show's key creatives today to confirm the following.
Michael Cohl has joined the production as lead producer on the show. Jeremiah J. Harris is now second producer on the show. The full producing team for SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is Michael Cohl, Jeremiah J. Harris, Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Marvel Entertainment/David Maisel, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The producers said that full financing for SPIDER-MAN is expected to be in place shortly. Once this happens the show will resume full production. The show will open in 2010 at the Hilton Theatre in New York.
Michael Cohl said, "Having started early on with SPIDER-MAN and now taking on the lead producing role is extremely exciting and a welcome challenge. Knowing the details and intricacies of this wildly ambitious project, I want to 'turn off the dark' on all the wild speculation about the show -- it's moving forward!"
TCM - Shadows of Russia Film Showcase
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
From the last days of the Tsars and the Russian Revolution to the intrigue of the Cold War, from student demonstrations to anti-communist fervor, cinema has provided an ideal canvas on which to paint the story of Russia and its effect on the world. This winter, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will present the 20-film festival Shadows of Russia, showcasing a rich array of movies from and about the era. The festival will air Wednesdays in primetime throughout January.
Mission to Moscow, which will be receiving a rare prime-time TCM showing as part of the series, is a unique $2 million pro-Soviet propaganda epic. Made by Warner Bros. at the personal request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to generate American support for Russia in World War II, the film was directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca ) and stars Walter Huston as a U.S. ambassador who praises Dictator Josef Stalin. After the war, Mission to Moscow was cited as evidence of Communist infiltration of Hollywood during the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings.
TCM's Shadows of Russia event was conceived and created by New York Post critic Lou Lumenick and film blogger Self-Styled Siren (Farran Smith Nehme). They brought the idea to TCM after writing in-depth about TCM's February 2009 presentation of Mission to Moscow. "The showcase is a fascinating opportunity to see how cinema has depicted the rise of communism in Russia and the country's relationship to the world," said Charles Tabesh, senior vice president of programming for TCM.
Among the outstanding titles featured in TCM's Shadows of Russia are The Scarlet Empress (1934), Reds (1981), Ninotchka (1939) and The Way We Were
(1973). In addition, TCM will present three infrequently seen movies making their first appearances on the network: The North Star (1943), starring Huston and Dana Andrews as Russian villagers battling Nazi invaders, directed by Lewis Milestone (All Quiet on the Western Front) from an Oscarr-nominated script by Lillian Hellman; My Son John (1952), about a young man (Robert Walker in his final film) whose parents suspect him of being a communist, directed by Leo McCarey; and I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951), with Frank Lovejoy in a documentary-like spy thriller.
Each night of TCM's Shadows of Russia will focus on two themes, beginning with Twilight of the Tsars and Red Romance on Jan. 6; The Lighter Side of the Revolution and The Left on Campus on Jan. 13; Our Red Army Pals and Diplomatic Immunity on Jan. 20; Spies Among Us and The Height of the Cold War on Jan. 27. The following is a complete schedule:
Wednesday, Jan. 6
Part One: Twilight of the Tsars
8 p.m. The Scarlet Empress (1934) - starring Marlene Dietrich and John Lodge.
10 p.m. Rasputin and the Empress (1932) - starring John, Ethel and Lionel Barrymore.
Part Two: Red Romance
12:15 a.m. Red Danube (1949) - starring Walter Pidgeon and Ethel Barrymore.
2:30 a.m. Reds (1981) - starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Maureen Stapleton.
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Part Three: The Lighter Side of the Revolution
8 p.m. Comrade X (1940) - starring Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr.
10 p.m. Ninotchka (1939) - starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas.
Part Four: The Left on Campus
Midnight The Way We Were (1973) - starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.
2:15 a.m. Spring Madness (1938) - starring Maureen O'Sullivan, Lew Ayres, Ruth Hussey and Burgess Meredith.
Overnight Feature
3:30 a.m. The Strawberry Statement (1970) - starring Bruce Davison, Kim Darby and Bob Balaban.
Wednesday, Jan. 20
Part Five: Our Red Army Pals
8 p.m. The North Star (1943) - starring Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews and Walter Huston.
10 p.m. Mission to Moscow (1943) -starring Walter Huston, Ann Harding and Oscar Homolka.
Part Six: Diplomatic Immunity
12:15 a.m. The Kremlin Letter (1970) - starring Bibi Andersson, Richard Boone, Max von Sydow and Orson Welles.
2:15 a.m. Conspirator (1949) - starring Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor.
Overnight Feature
4 a.m. Counter-Attack (1945) - starring Paul Muni and Marguerite Chapman.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Part Seven: Spies Among Us
8 p.m. My Son John (1952) - starring Helen Hayes, Robert Walker and Dean Jagger.
10:15 p.m. I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951) - starring Frank Lovejoy and Dorothy Hart.
Part Eight: The Height of the Cold War
Midnight The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Angela Lansbury.
2:15 a.m. The Bedford Incident (1965)
- starring Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier.
Overnight Features
4:15 a.m. Scarlet Dawn (1932) - starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Nancy Carroll.
5:15 a.m. The Doughgirls (1944) - starring Jane Wyman, Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith and Eve Arden.
TCM Classic Film Festival Announced For April 2010
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
Turner Classic Movies (TCM), the authority in classic film, will stage the network's first film festival April 22-25, 2010, in the heart of Hollywood . The TCM Classic Film Festival will be a landmark celebration of the history of Hollywood and its movies, presented in a way that only TCM can, with major events, celebrity appearances and screenings of classic movies. The network is inviting fans from around the country to join this new festival and share their passion for classic film.
All screenings - more than 50 in all - will include special introductions to provide context about each film. Specific details about TCM's unique, interactive fan experience will be announced in the weeks and months ahead, including appearances by actors, actresses, directors, producers and other key figures.
Robert Osborne, TCM's primetime host, will be the official host of the festival. "Classic movies are something that link the past to the present and form a vital part of our culture," Osborne said. "This new festival will give those who love movies a way to connect with each other. It is a first-of-its-kind chance for TCM fans to experience the network in-person, meet others with the same interests and immerse themselves in a wide array of classic films."
Hollywood and its history will be celebrated throughout the TCM Classic Film Festival. In addition to screening classic films, from newly restored masterpieces to silent classics and undiscovered gems, the festival will tell the story of Hollywood through films, guests and special events throughout the weekend.
TCM will be partnering with Vanity Fair magazine - creator of the Penguin book Vanity Fair's Tales of Hollywood, edited by Graydon Carter - to bring the book to life. Writers from the magazine, along with actors and filmmakers, will tell behind-the-scenes stories of many of Hollywood 's greatest films.
In addition, the TCM Classic Film Festival will honor the nation's pre-eminent organization devoted to preserving Hollywood 's legacy, The Film Foundation, which will be celebrating its 20th year of preserving and restoring classic films. Several films restored by The Film Foundation will be showcased at the festival.
Hollywood has put its own spin on the movie industry over the years, from escapist musicals to downbeat film noirs. Because there has been no greater subject for Hollywood to explore than Hollywood itself, the festival will highlight some of the best films from this category.
As TCM examines Hollywood 's history, the influence of foreign-language films on American filmmaking also will be explored. The festival will screen important film imports that have had an unquestionable impact on the direction Hollywood has taken. TCM also is proud to offer a sneak peek into the network's most ambitious original programming effort to date, Moguls and Movie Stars, a multi-part documentary about the history of the Hollywood film industry. The project, co-produced by Bill Haber's Ostar Productions, is slated to premiere on the network in fall 2010.
The TCM Classic Film Festival will be held Thursday, April 22, through Sunday, April 25, 2010, in Hollywood . Festival passes will go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 18, at www.tcm.com/festival. Prices will range from $500 to $1,200 for four-day passes.
The festival will involve several venues in a central area of Hollywood , including screenings at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Oscarr ceremony, will be the official hotel for the festival as well as a key venue for festival passholders.
TCM, the producer of the festival, has brought onboard as consultants Bill and Stella Pence, a couple well-known in industry circles as co-founders of the Telluride Film Festival. "As dedicated fans of TCM, we think a destination film festival for network devotees is a logical and welcome step," Bill Pence said.
Stella Pence said the TCM Classic Film Festival will be a unique proposition. "There are a great many film festivals around the world, but only TCM is so perfectly poised to do something truly original when it comes to classic movies," she said.
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin To Host 2010 Oscars
[Press Release - Released by ABC]
STEVE MARTIN AND ALEC BALDWIN TO HOST OSCAR SHOW, SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 2010 ON ABC
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as co-hosts of the 82nd Academy Awards®, Oscar telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman announced today.
"We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars," said Shankman and Mechanic. "Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event."
"I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy, Alec Baldwin," said Martin.
"I don't play the banjo, but I'm thrilled to be hosting the Oscars – it's the opportunity of a lifetime," said Baldwin.
Martin hosted the 73rd and 75th Academy Awards shows, earning an Emmy nomination for the first stint. He has also served as a presenter on the show several times, most recently at the ceremony in February when he appeared with Tina Fey. He is currently touring with the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers in support of his latest album, "The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo." In 1977 and 1978 Martin won Grammys for Best Comedy Recording. He earned a third Grammy in 2001 in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category. In 2007 Martin earned a Kennedy Center Honor.
EVERYBODY'S FINE To Feature New Paul McCartney Song
[Press Release]
NEW FILM EVERYBODY'S FINE TO FEATURE NEW PAUL MCCARTNEY SONG "(I WANT TO) COME HOME"
Paul McCartney has written an original song, (I Want To) Come Home," for the upcoming Miramax Films release Everybody's Fine, starring Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.
After attending an early screening of the film, McCartney felt a deep connection to the material and began writing the song that very night.
Everybody's Fine, written and directed by Kirk Jones ("Waking Ned Devine"), is the story of a widower (Robert De Niro) who embarks on an impromptu road trip to reconnect with each of his grown children only to discover that their lives are far from picture perfect.
Collaborating with composer Dario Marianelli on the orchestrations, McCartney has crafted an intimate song that compliments the themes of the film and serves as a final grace note to the moving story.
Reflecting on his reaction to the film, McCartney said, "I could definitely identify with Robert De Niro's character because I have grown-up kids who have their own families."
Miramax Films will release Everybody's Fine in theaters nationwide on December 4.
Worldwide Live Community Screening of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
First-ever Worldwide Live Community Screening of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
WATCH THE MOVIE ON BLU-RAY(TM) WITH DANIEL RADCLIFFE AND DAVID YATES ON DECEMBER 12th
Also enjoy an exclusive look at the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Burbank, CA, October 19, 2009 – Experience the first-ever worldwide Live Community Screening (LCS) exclusive to owners of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray Disc and hear star Daniel Radcliffe and director David Yates answer your questions during this live LCS on December 12th, 2009. Also be the first to see footage from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, featured on the Blu-ray and 2-Disc Special Editions of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, available on December 8th, 2009 (order on Amazon
The worldwide LCS, which showcases the expansive capabilities and interactivity offered with Blu-ray and Warner Bros. BD-Live, will take place on December 12th at 12:00PM PST (3:00PM EST) live from London. The LCS will allow BD-Live capable Blu-ray users to simultaneously watch the movie together with Daniel Radcliffe and director David Yates and hear an interactive Q&A where fans can ask questions about the blockbuster film directly to Daniel and David, directly from their home.
"I'm really looking forward to the Live Community Screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and excited to talk directly to fans of the movie about my experiences and answer their questions," said Daniel Radcliffe. "It's a wonderful way for fans and for those directly involved with making a film to share opinions and ideas."
According to director David Yates, "It's a tremendous honor to be invited to host the first worldwide Live Community Screening and to have the opportunity to talk directly to fans across the globe. I'm looking forward to engaging with the thoughts and opinions of the fans who have supported us so loyally and passionately over the years – without them the films wouldn't be the success they are."
TCM Pays Tribute to Grace Kelly in November
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
Turner Classic Movies Pays Tribute to Grace Kelly in November To Celebrate the Beloved Actress' 80th Birthday
Film Salute Airs Each Thursday in November, Beginning at 8 p.m. (ET)
Model, stage actress, film star and princess: Grace Kelly is fondly remembered as one of the most beautiful and dignified performers ever to grace the Silver Screen. This November, in honor of what would have been the actress' 80th birthday, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate her life and work by presenting all of her feature films, as well as a television special. TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne will guide viewers through her fascinating career and outstanding performances each Thursday night in November, beginning at 8 p.m. (ET).
Within TCM's STAR OF THE MONTH: GRACE KELLY collection is the actress' Oscar®-winning performance as the plain and resentful wife of an alcoholic in The Country Girl (1954 – Nov. 12 at midnight), as well as the three consecutive films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starting with Dial M for Murder (1954 – Nov. 12 at 8 p.m.). Hitchcock unintentionally played matchmaker when he cast Kelly in To Catch a Thief (1955 – Nov. 26 at 8 p.m.), which was set on the French Riviera, where she met her husband, Prince Rainier of Monaco. After starring as a princess in The Swan (1956 – Nov. 26 at midnight), Kelly retired to take on her new role as Princess Grace of Monaco, although she did serve on the board of directors for 20th Century-Fox from 1976 to 1981. Kelly died in a car accident in 1982.
