News

Following the international acclaim of “Babylon Berlin,” XFilme Creative Pool, in partnership with Beta Film, debuted excerpts from its newest drama series, “House of Promises,” scoring on Sunday MipDrama’s prestigious Buyers’ Coup de Couer Award.

The 12-part drama, directed by the reputed Sherry Hormann (“Desert Flower”) and Umut Dag (“Vienna Blood”) for bullishly growing SVOD service Rtl Plus, centers on its female protagonists, giving breath to their histories and the tide-shift taking place in the ‘20s that allowed them to chase their passions and ambitions fiercely.

“House of Promises” is the female perspective of the Golden 20s. The center of our series isn’t only a love story, it’s about love on all levels. Romantic love, love within a family. It’s about the failure of love, about friendship and love between women,” Hormann notes.

“Our vision is to dive into daily life at this time. Telling facts...

TVNow, Rtl Deutschland’s streaming service, high-flying Berlin-based production house X Filme Creative Pool and production-distribution powerhouse Beta Film are partnering on what looks like one of the biggest German drama series productions of 2021: “House of Promises,” (a working title).

Beta Film is handling world sales and will present first moving images of the series at October’s Mipcom trade fair in Cannes, it said Friday.

Described by Beta Film as a “high-end” and a “visually stunning drama,” the 12-hour series is currently shooting on location in Berlin, Brandenburg and the Saxon city of Görlitz. Set in Berlin in the 1920s, it captures the hopes of a dazzling decade and the dramatic turn of an era from the perspective of a young woman and a Jewish family, owner of a state-of-the-art department store at Berlin’s Torstrasse 1.

Award winning director Sherry Hormann directs episodes 1-6, once again focusing on “complex,...

Exclusive: Endeavor Content has boarded world sales rights to documentary A Fire Within, which tells the remarkable true story of three Ethiopian women’s fight to bring a torturer to justice in America.

Ethiopian-born model and actress Liya Kebede has also joined the project as executive producer ahead of its world premiere tomorrow at the Atlanta Film Festival.

A Fire Within charts the little known history of three Ethiopian women who immigrate to America after surviving torture in their home country and, several years later, discover that the man responsible for their torture is not only living in America but is working at the same Atlanta hotel as one of the women. The film documents the women’s harrowing and historic attempt over many years to bring their torturer to justice in Atlanta.

Director Christopher Chambers’ produces with Fmrl Media and Above the Clouds.

“I was so touched and moved by this story,...

Based on the same real-life “honor killing” that inspired fellow German Feo Aladag’s prize-winning 2010 feature “When We Leave,” Sherry Hormann’s “A Regular Woman” takes a compelling new approach to the contentious 2005 case that shocked Germany: By allowing the murdered woman — a 23-year-old German of Turkish-Kurdish ancestry shot point blank by her youngest brother — to narrate the action both before and after her death, the director (“Desert Flower”) restores the victim’s voice. Further fest screenings and niche arthouse play should follow the film’s Tribeca world premiere.

From a family of strict Sunni Muslims and the oldest daughter of nine siblings, Hatun “Aynur” Sürücü was forced to leave her Kreuzberg school in 1998, age 16, and marry a cousin in Istanbul. In her voiceover, which outlines the expectations assigned to a dutiful daughter, Aynur calls it “a change of owner,” as control over her person shifts from father to husband.

The second edition of the 'Women in Motion' program will take place in Cannes from May 11 to 22, 2016 at the 69th Festival de Cannes.

The year’s official poster is of Frances McDormand whose presentation at last year’s first edition illuminated gender bias practices within the film industry in the most captivating, funny and serious presentation of the several presentations given.

During her Talk on 22 May 2015, the actress addressed the impact gender discrimination had on budget negotiations for female filmmakers, the lack of money being one of the main issues faced within the industry. Frances McDormand made her point hit home:

"We don't need help, we need money. We don't need more initiatives; we need money."

"Women in motion - it's done! We are moving, we just need to catch up."

Read more on SydneysBuzz about the inaugural sessions of Women in Motion, Cannes 2015.

Launched jointly by Kering and the Festival de Cannes in 2015 as part of an official five year partnership, the 'Women in Motion' program celebrates women's talent in cinema. In keeping with the first edition, the 'Women in Motion' program will be comprised of its two founding pillars: the 'Women in Motion' Talks and the 'Women in Motion' Awards.

The Talks will be announced ahead of the Festival, and will highlight the contribution of women and discuss their role in the film industry.

In addition to the Talks, the first 'Women in Motion' Award will reward the exemplary contribution of a laureate to both the film industry and women's causes. The second Award will be attributed to one or several up-and-coming talents in the film industry, chosen from a shortlist of individuals compiled throughout 2015.

To watch Frances McDormand's Talk on 22 May 2015 visit Here

"I am proud that ‘Women in Motion’ has once again been given the chance to feature in the program of such a major event as the Festival de Cannes this year. In 2015, ‘Women in Motion’ proved to be a powerful platform for supporting women in cinema.

With ‘Women in Motion’ – and even more so this year, given the real support we are providing to several female directors – we are taking another step towards real awareness and tangible changes, promoting a film industry that is more representative of the richness and diversity of our societies." -François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of the Kering Group

The ‘Women in Motion’ Talks: discussing the role and importance of women in film

Taking place as morning sessions throughout the entire competition, this year’s ‘Women in Motion’ Talks will welcome guests from outside the film industry to enrich the discussions about the place and contribution of women in cinema and underline solutions which would make the industry more representative.

· During the first edition of the ‘Women in Motion’ Talks held in 2015, a number of high-profile men and women eagerly joined the debate. Isabella Rossellini, Claire Denis, Salma Hayek Pinault, Matthias Schoenaerts, Melvil Poupaud, Isabelle Huppert, Sylvie Pialat, Agnès Varda, Thierry Frémaux, Frances McDormand and Deniz Gamze Ergüven all expressed their views on women and cinema during a series of interviews open to journalists and industry professionals.

The ‘Women in Motion’ Awards: celebrating talented women

· In addition to the talks, the 69th Cannes International Film Festival will also be marked by the presentation of the ‘Women in Motion’ Awards.

· In 2015, two honorary awards were attributed; the first to actress, producer and committed philanthropist Jane Fonda, who also holds two Oscars for best actress; and the second to independent producer Megan Ellison to celebrate the launch of the ‘Women in Motion’ programme. Both women are emblematic of their cinematic generations.

· In 2016, the first award will be presented to a laureate who has made an exemplary contribution to both the film industry and women’s causes. The first award winner will then be offered the chance to choose the recipient(s) of the second award, intended to support up-and-coming talents in the film industry, from a shortlist of individuals compiled throughout 2015. The second award will be accompanied by financial support for an ongoing film project.

· The awards will be presented on 15 May 2016, during the ‘Presidential Dinner’ organised by Kering and the Festival de Cannes and hosted by François-Henri Pinault, Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux.

A long-term commitment to both Women and Cinema

Kering and cinema

· From financing films and restoring works to producing documentaries and supporting producers and feature films, Kering and its Corporate Foundation have supported a number of films with a strong message: “Desert Flower” by Sherry Hormann (2009), “Home” by Yann-Arthus Bertrand (2009), “Brave Miss World” by Cecilia Peck (2013), and “Ice and Sky” by Luc Jacquet (2015).

· Kering has also been a partner of the Ecole de la Cité film school, part of the Cité du Cinéma complex created by Luc Besson, since its launch in 2012.

· Through its brands, Kering has also supported high-profile film institutions and festivals, such as the Tribeca Film Institute (New York), Britdoc (London), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) and the Lumière Festival (Lyon).

Kering and women

· Kering has been committed to empowering women for many years, primarily through the Kering Foundation, created and chaired by François-Henri Pinault, Kering Chairman and CEO, as well as the Chime for Change initiative launched by Gucci, to empower women and girls around the world.

About Kering

A world leader in apparel and accessories, Kering develops an ensemble of powerful Luxury and Sport & Lifestyle brands: Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Christopher Kane, McQ, Stella McCartney, Tomas Maier, Boucheron, Dodo, Girard-Perregaux, JeanRichard, Pomellato, Qeelin, Ulysse Nardin, Puma, Volcom, and Cobra. By 'empowering imagination' in the fullest sense, Kering encourages its brands to reach their potential, in the most sustainable manner.

Present in more than 120 countries, the Group generated revenues of more than €11.5 billion in 2015 and had more than 38,000 employees at year end. The Kering (previously Ppr) share is listed on Euronext Paris (Fr 0000121485, Ker.Pa, Ker.Fp).

Thierry Fremaux to address women and the film industry as part of a joint venture with new sponsor Kering.

Cannes Film Festival general delegate Thierry Frémaux will tackle the controversial topic of women and film during this year’s edition, as one of the first participants in a new female-focused programme called ‘Women in Motion’.

The programme – a joint initiative between the festival and its new sponsor, the luxury goods group Kering – will feature a series of talks on women and film as well as an award celebrating talented women in the industry.

The talks will discuss a wide-range of topics related to women and film, including women’s status, representation within the profession and on screen, the nature of their narrative points of view and their perspective behind the camera, said the festival and Kering in a joint statement.

Frémaux will be one of the first high-profile guests at the inaugural edition of the talks. The full...

Thierry Fremaux to address women and the film industry as part of a joint venture with new sponsor Kering.

Cannes Film Festival general delegate Thierry Frémaux will tackle the controversial topic of women and film during this year’s edition, as one of the first participants in a new female-focused programme called ‘Women in Motion’.

The programme – a joint initiative between the festival and its new sponsor, the luxury goods group Kering – will feature a series of talks on women and film as well as an award celebrating talented women in the industry.

The talks will discuss a wide-range of topics related to women and film, including women’s status, representation within the profession and on screen, the nature of their narrative points of view and their perspective behind the camera, said the festival and Kering in a joint statement.

Frémaux will be one of the first high-profile guests at the inaugural edition of the talks. The full...

The 2013 Rwanda Film Festival has unveiled its impressive shortlist of films we have covered and/or reviewed on its site. We will return to any specific titles that we haven't profiled individually. The festival, which runs July 20-26 in the state-of-the-art multiplex cinema in the city of Kigali, the Festival received a total of 284 films from all over the world. This year's theme “Our Mothers, Our Heroes,” focuses on films "that collectively provided a holistic representation of women." Among the titles selected are Mama Africa, Desert Flower, Virgin Margarida, Le Bonheur D’elza, Ladies’s Turn, Something Necessary, Nairobi Halflife and Middle of Nowhere. See the...

Double Dutch International announced today that it has acquired the worldwide rights to the psychological thriller House of Last Things.

The film - written, directed and produced by Michael Bartlett - stars Rj Mitte (Breaking Bad), Lindsey Haun (True Blood) and Blake Berris. Cinematographer is Ken Kelsch (Bad Lieutenant, Big Night, Desert Flower).

House of Last Things is a thriller set in Portland, Oregon. A classical music critic leaves on an extended vacation to Italy with his grieving wife, leaving their spacious home in the hands of a young female caretaker (Haun). Joined by her boyfriend (Berris) and younger brother (Mitte), the house-- and a young boy-- begin inspiring strange and unexplained behavior, the limits of reality begin to blur.

Read more...

Time sure does fly fast. The year 2011 is practically over and what better way to celebrate it than to look back at the year that was. We were able to swim our way out of the deep waters that were filled with remakes and sequels, which wasn’t entirely bad depending on which ones you enjoyed. Then we have the more independent sector which felt as lively as ever. It’s always a delight to go to the movies, just to be entertained by many on the big screen throughout the year, except for the bad ones, those normally aren’t fun to sit through. I’m looking at you “Desert Flower.” Now...

The First Grader, a Kenyan film we’ve written about a few times already on this site, is getting a theatrical release in the USA.

National Geographic, who also picked up and released Desert Flower here in the USA, will release The First Grader on May 13th, in a limited theatrical release.

The film, directed by Justin Chadwick, and staring Brit Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo, centers on an old villager, who insists on attending school so he can learn to read, inspiring others around him to realize that it’s never too late to dream.

MsWOO saw it at the London Film Festival last fall, and reviewed it. You can read her lukewarm thoughts Here.

Watch the trailer for the film below:...

Anyone seeking the courage to survive just about any challenge or calamity should run, not walk to see "Desert Flower," a film chronicling the epic life of supermodel turned human rights activist Waris Dirie. Dirie made her way across the Somali desert alone at age 13 to escape an arranged marriage, and later became one of the first to speak out against female genital mutilation, a barbaric ritual she endured as a very young child and which is still practiced worldwide on an estimated 8,000 girls a day...

Jane Eyre continues to build its case as a limited release hit: the movie added 24 locations for a total of 26 and improved 155 percent to $466,409. While it's average of $17,939 was way off from last weekend, that's still a very strong figure and indicates that the movie has plenty of room left to grow. Through ten days the Mia Wasikowska-Michael Fassbender drama has already amassed $719,514, and will be playing in at least 78 theaters this coming weekend. While it didn't come close to Jane Eyre's excellent opening last weekend, Win Win still managed to make some noise in its debut frame. The Paul Giamatti-Amy Ryan comedy opened to $150,362 at five locations, which translates to a solid per-theater average of $30,072. That's a big improvement over writer-director Tom McCarthy's first two movies, The Station Agent and The Visitor, which ultimately finished with $5.7 million and $9.4 million, respectively. While official expansion plans aren't currently available,...

This week gives us few potentially watchable flicks but nothing great. It’s mid-march, which means nothing will be very exciting (to be fair, the noteworthy Greenberg did come out same time last year, but there’s a particularly large amount of mediocrity going on. If you want a decent dramedy that has something for everyone, Win Win, starring Paul Giamatti, is probably your best bet. For stoner and geek crowds, Paul might give you a laugh, and if you’re in New York, definitely check out docs Nostalgia for the Light or Bill Cunningham, New York which opened at the Film Forum on Wednesday. U.S Indie The Music Never Stopped - Jim Kohlberg - Roadside This father son pic based on a case study by Oliver Sacks was the first major film to be acquired at Sundance this past January. We say this will be "a sentimental father-son...

Reviewed by Amy R. Handler

(March 2011)

Directed/Written by: Sherry Horman

Starring: Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson and Anthony Mackie

When a Cockney shopgirl befriends a beautiful Somali refugee in an upscale dress shop’s loo, neither is prepared for what lies ahead.

The taboo subject of female circumcision (otherwise known as female genital mutilation or cutting) is artfully revealed in “Desert Flower,” written and directed by Sherry Horman (“Guys and Balls”). Fgm is a far-reaching, ancient rite of passage that is believed to protect virginity and elevate very young girls to sainted womanhood. Though this seldom-discussed practice is condemned by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, it continues to this day in certain areas of Asia, Northeastern Africa, Australia and South America.

Horman’s movie is based upon the best-selling autobiography “Desert Flower” written by the now 46-year-old former fashion model and actress Waris Dirie...

Reviewed by Amy R. Handler

(March 2011)

Directed/Written by: Sherry Horman

Starring: Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson and Anthony Mackie

When a Cockney shopgirl befriends a beautiful Somali refugee in an upscale dress shop’s loo, neither is prepared for what lies ahead.

The taboo subject of female circumcision (otherwise known as female genital mutilation or cutting) is artfully revealed in “Desert Flower,” written and directed by Sherry Horman (“Guys and Balls”). Fgm is a far-reaching, ancient rite of passage that is believed to protect virginity and elevate very young girls to sainted womanhood. Though this seldom-discussed practice is condemned by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, it continues to this day in certain areas of Asia, Northeastern Africa, Australia and South America.

Horman’s movie is based upon the best-selling autobiography “Desert Flower” written by the now 46-year-old former fashion model and actress Waris Dirie...

Title: Desert Flower Director: Sherry Horman Starring: Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins and Craig Parkinson Chronicling a person’s life story on screen is never an easy task, especially when the person is from a different culture than the intended audience. Sherry Hormann is one such screenwriter-director, as she had the difficult task of adapting African nomad-turned-supermodel Waris Dirie’s autobiography Desert Flower. Instead of going the easy route and focusing on the success Waris found later in life as a model, Hormann made the risky decision to focus on Waris’ fight to end the female genital mutilation (Fgm) she wrongfully had to endure. ‘Desert Flower’ follows the life of Waris (portrayed by Ethiopian model and actress [...]...

Read our exclusive interview with supermodel-actress-maternal health advocate Liya Kebede, who stars as Waris Dirie, a Somalian nomad who escapes her life of poverty to become a supermodel in London, in the new National Geographic Entertainment movie ‘Desert Flower.’ The film, which is based on Dirie’s 1998 best-selling autobiography Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad, chronicles her journey as she escaped Somalia at 13 to get out of an arranged marriage. After being homeless, Dirie was discovered by a photographer while working as a cleaning woman in a fast food restaurant. She now uses her fame to and her position as a Un Special ambassador for Women’s [...]...

By Annlee Ellingson

(March 2011)

Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Cinequest Film Festival has merged film and technology for two decades. The event was an early adopter of digital capture and exhibition as well as distribution across all platforms from the big screen to DVD to TV to the Internet to handheld devices.

The tradition continues in the festival’s 21st edition with a program that includes 3-D programming and panels, including the world premiere of the stereo version of “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” two 3-D shorts programs and seminars on the art and science of stereo filmmaking.

Meanwhile, Cinequest is screening 173 films this year from 41 countries — 75 of which are U.S., North American or world premieres. Audiences are expected to near 100,000, with more than 700 artists slated to attend.

This evening’s opening-night film is “Passione,” John Turturro’s musical love poem to the city of Naples.

By Annlee Ellingson

(March 2011)

Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Cinequest Film Festival has merged film and technology for two decades. The event was an early adopter of digital capture and exhibition as well as distribution across all platforms from the big screen to DVD to TV to the Internet to handheld devices.

The tradition continues in the festival’s 21st edition with a program that includes 3-D programming and panels, including the world premiere of the stereo version of “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” two 3-D shorts programs and seminars on the art and science of stereo filmmaking.

Meanwhile, Cinequest is screening 173 films this year from 41 countries — 75 of which are U.S., North American or world premieres. Audiences are expected to near 100,000, with more than 700 artists slated to attend.

This evening’s opening-night film is “Passione,” John Turturro’s musical love poem to the city of Naples.

Apple has gotten its hand on a trailer for "Desert Flower" which tells the true story of famous Somali model Waris Dirie. The video starts with a preview of her life in the desert before she moves to a modern country where she struggles to make ends meet by working in an eatery before a fashion photographer finds her.

Dirie was catapulted to fame and fortune as a high fashion model after running away from an arranged marriage at age 13. But after years of living a glamorous life, the past comes back to haunt her, and she must face the childhood trauma that forever changed her destiny.

Liya Kebede portrays Dirie, joined by Sally Hawkins, Anthony Mackie, Timothy Spall and Juliet Stevenson on the cast ensemble. This drama will make its way out in limited U.S. theaters on March 18.

We’ve been tracking this film for over a year now. It’s called Desert Flower, and it’s based on the world best-selling book of the same name by Waris Dirie – an autobiographical tale of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 5, sold in marriage at 13, who became an American supermodel, and is now at the age of 38, the Un spokeswoman against female circumcision.

A UK/Germany/Austria tri-production, the film has already screened in several European countries since 2009. It’s only North American play-date was at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2009.

Some names in it you might recognize include Anthony Mackie and Timothy Spall. The director, Sherry Horman, lives and works in Germany, and I’m not at all familiar with her previous work.

Sergio last reported in January that the film had been acquired for Us distribution by National Geographic Films, but no release date was available at the time,...

Liya Kebede is on a roll. Not only is the Ethiopian stunner one of the highest paid models on Earth, she's now successfully crossing over into films. She starred in 2009's "Desert Flower," a biopic about legendary Ethiopian model Waris Darie, and now she has a plum role in "In the Woods." The much-buzzed-about online video features Terrence Howard, Yoko Ono, Debra Winger and is being released in segments on the director's website. Go Liya!Of course, Kebede isn't the first catwalk stalker to crossover into film. From '60s stunner Daphne Maxwell Reid to French femme fatale Noemie Lenoir, here is a timeline of our favorite models-turned-actresses. Here's what you had to say: Beaute commented via Facebook: "Liya Kebede was great in 'Desert Flower.'" Ora wrote via Facebook:"My favorite model-turned-actress is Tyra Banks. She got killed in one movie she starred in and I cried."...

Tambay posted an item about Desert Flower almost exactly a year ago and it seemed to have disappeared after that, though it had been making the European film festival circuit, but The Match Factory, the Cologne Germany based production company that made the film, has announced that National Geographic Films has picked up the U.S. distribution rights for the film.

The film, written and directed by Sherry Norman, is based on “the world best-selling book of the same name by Waris Dirie (played by real life supermodel Liya Kebede along with Anthony Mackie in a supporting role)– an autobiographical tale of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 5, sold in marriage at 13, who became an American supermodel, and is now at the age of 38, the Un spokeswoman against female circumcision.” No word for when the film is scheduled for release in the U.S., but no doubt it will be after...

The Athena Film Festival has lined up its first program of narrative and documentary films, which will unspool February 10 to 13, 2011 on the Barnard Campus in New York City. In keeping with the fest's women in Hollywood focus, Sundance Film Festival doc entry Miss Representation explores the media’s disparaging portrayals of women via interviews with Katie Couric, Nancy Pelosi, Rosario Dawson, Lisa Ling, Catherine Hardwicke and Geena Davis. Biopic Desert Flower, based on the bestseller, narrates the life of Waris Dirie, from African refugee to supermodel. (Trailer below.) The festival will debut in the U.S. BBC Worldwide's Mo, starring Julie Walters as Mo Mowlam, the no-nonsense Brit politician who brokered the Good Friday Peace Agreement, and will present three shorts programs, including 12 ...

A month after my first interview with Sally Hawkins was canceled after she lost her voice, there's still a raspiness in her throat that's at odds with her otherwise indefatigable spirit. Yet both are evidence of a 2010 in which Hawkins has appeared in three films to hit the States this fall -- "Never Let Me Go," "It's a Wonderful Afterlife" and "Made in Dagenham" -- and stood toe to toe with Cherry Jones on Broadway in a revival of George Bernard Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession." (This isn't even to mention the three on the way in 2011: the dramas "Desert Flower" and "Jane Eyre" and the Sundance-bound comedy "Submarine," which I felt was one of the best at this year's Toronto Film Festival.) In the midst of this incredibly busy season for the actress, Hawkins took the time to talk about overcoming shyness, why there truly are no small...

Cologne, Germany – Peter Herrmann and Sherry Hormann, the director/producer team behind Waris Dirie biography "Desert Flower," are re-teaming to adapt self-help bestseller "The Situation Is Hopeless But Not Serious (The Pursuit of Unhappiness)" from psychologist Paul Watzlawick.

The 1983 tome is an ironic guide to the typical ways in which people conspire to sabotage their own happiness. Hormann will use Wartzlawick's book and theories as the basis for a fictional comedy.

"Desert Flower," which starred Sally Hawkins and model Liya Kebede, was a sleeper hit in Germany, where both Hermann and Hormann are based, earning nearly $10 million at the box office. Herrmann's producer credits also include 2001 Foreign Language Oscar-winner "Nowhere in Africa."...

The Melbourne International Film Festival has announced this year’s favourite films, as voted by the audience.

Nz’s Boy (directed by Taika Waititi and opening in Australia on August 26) was the top film, while Bill Cunningham: New York was the favourite documentary. Australian features The Wedding Party and Summer Coda were also in the top 10, at numbers six and 10 respectively

Top 10 Features

1. Boy Dir. Taika Waititi (Nz)

2. Desert Flower Dir. Sherry Hoffman (Germany/Austria/France)

3. Certified Copy Dir. Abbas Kiarostami (France/Italy)

4. Four Lions Dir. Chris Morris (UK)

5. Summer Wars Dir. Mamoru Hosoda (Japan)

6. The Wedding Party Dir. Amanda Jane (Australia)

7. I Love You Phillip Morris Dir. Glenn Ficarra, John Requa (USA/Canada)

8. Women Without Men Dir. Shirin Neshat (Germany/Austria/France)

9. The Ballad of Des and Mo Dir. James Fair (Ireland)

10. Summer Coda Dir Richard Gray (Australia)

Top 10 Documentaries

1. Bill Cunningham New York Dir. Richard Press (USA)

2. The Invention of Dr.

Here are the new MPAA ratings from Bulletin No: 2131.

The American Rated R For violence, sexual content and nudity. Release Date: September 1, 2010 The Beaver Rated PG-13 For mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference. Release Date: Tba 2010 The Big I Am Rated R For strong bloody violence, pervasive language, sexuality, nudity and drug content. Boogie Woogie Rated R For strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout and some drug use. Desert Flower Rated R For some violent content, a scene of sexuality and language. Due Date Rated R For language, drug use and sexual content. Release Date: November 5, 2010 Frenemy Rated R For strong violence, pervasive language, some drug and sexual content. Handsome Harry Rated R For language and some sexual content. HottieBoombaLottie Rated PG-13 For language, some sexual material and disturbing behavior. Kung Fu Master Rated R For some bloody martial arts violence. Lake...

MPAA ratings: July 28, 2010. The following feature-length motion pictures have been reviewed and rated by the Classification and Rating Administration pursuant to the Motion Picture Classification and Rating program. Each of the designated ratings is defined as follows under the Motion Picture Classification and Rating program.

G -- General Audiences. All ages admitted.

PG -- Parental Guidance Suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

PG -13 --Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

R -- Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Nc-17 -- No One 17 And Under Admitted.

Film Distributor Reason Rating American, The  

Focus Features, LLC

Rated for violence, sexual content and nudity. R Beaver, The   Summit Distribution, LLC

Rated for mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference.  PG-13 Big I Am, The

E1 Entertainment U.S. LP

Rated for strong bloody  violence, pervasive language, sexuality,...

The German sales co. known for providing the fest circuit and art-house plexes with subtitled stuff from around the globe will set fire to the Director's Fortnight section this year. If I'm counting right, the Match Factory supply the section with a trio of titles (five total in the fest) including the much discussed on this site Cam Archer's sophomore feature, and they nabbed a Main Comp spot for one of the most celebrated directors of the decade in Apichatpong Weerasethakul latest – a sort of “ghost” story. - The German sales co. known for providing the fest circuit and art-house plexes with subtitled stuff from around the globe will set fire to the Director's Fortnight section this year. If I'm counting right, The Match Factory supply the fest with a five titles including The Light Thief (see pic above), The City Below, the including the much discussed...

The German sales co. known for providing the fest circuit and art-house plexes with subtitled stuff from around the globe will set fire to the Director's Fortnight section this year. If I'm counting right, The Match Factory supply the fest with a five titles including The Light Thief (see pic above), The City Below, the including the much discussed on this site Cam Archer's sophomore feature, and they nabbed a Main Comp spot for one of the most celebrated directors of the decade in Apichatpong Weerasethakul latest – a sort of “ghost” story. Everything Will Be Fine (Alting Bliver Godt Igen) by Christoffer Boe - Completed Shit Year by Cam Archer - Completed The City Below (Unter Dir Die Stadt) by Christoph HOCHHÄUSLER - Completed The Light Thief by Aktan Arym Kubat - Completed Uncle Boonmee Who Nn Recall His Past Lives (Loong Boonmee Raleuk Chaat) by Apichatpong Weerasethakul -...

The 2010 German Academy Award winners will be announced on April 23 in Berlin. Best film Everyone Else, dir. Maren Ade When We Leave, dir. Feo Aladag Soul Kitchen dir. Fatih Akin Storm dir. Hans-Christian Schmid The White Ribbon dir. Michael Haneke Desert Flower dir. Sherry Hormann Best documentary The Woman with the 5 Elephants dir. Vadim Jendreyko The Heart of Jenin dir. Marcus Vetter, Leon Geller Best children’s film Lippel’s Dream dir. Lars Buchel The Suburban Crocodiles dir. Christian Ditter Best director Maren Ade for Everyone Else Feo Aladag for When We Leave Michael Haneke for The White Ribbon Hans-Christian Schmid for Storm Best actress Corinna Harfouch for This Is Love Sibel Kekilli for When We Leave Susanne Lothar for The White Ribbon Birgit Minichmayr for Everyone Else Best actor Fabian Hinrichs for Schwerkraft Henry Hubchen for Whiskey [...]...

Berlin -- Michael Haneke's "The White Ribbon" may have missed out on the best foreign film Oscar but the Austrian filmmaker is all but certain to sweep the German Film Awards after "The White Ribbon" received 13 nominations for the country's top prize, the Lolas.

"The White Ribbon" picked up Lola noms in all possible categories, including best film, best director and best acting noms for stars Burghart Klaussner and Susanne Lothar.

Cinematographer Christian Berger, whose stark black-and-white images earned him an Oscar nomination, is the favurite to win the Lola for best cinematography at the German Film Awards on April 23 in Berlin.

"When We Leave," a drama from first-time director Feo Aladag, was the big surprise, earning six Lola nominations including ones for best film and best actress for Sibel Kekilli ("Head-On") in her comeback role as a young woman banished from her devout Muslim family.

Hans-Christian Schmid's...

Until women reach a 50-50 parity with men directors, my mission continues to count the women directors in upcoming and recent film festivals (and an occasional informal glance at what’s selling in the markets). Women’s films in Berlin reflect women’s place in the world both in content and in the numbers of women represented as directors, producers, writers, etc. John Cooper of Sundance stresses the increasing and possibly 50-50 parity of women producers, but I am looking at the directors. As March is Women’s History Month (and all the other months are Men’s History Month according to Gloria Steinem’s L.A. Times Article of March 4, 2010) this blog is in honor of all women everywhere.

Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow for winning the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. La Times puts into perspective the fact that the Best Director Oscar went to Kathryn Bigelow...

Natalie Portman toasts Rodarte. From PatrickMcMullan.com. As New York Fashion Week came to a close, the city’s sartorially savvy hit command Q on their event-filled iCals and headed to the Upper East Side for one last hurrah. But what to wear? Fur jackets and vests to keep warm while hailing taxis on Fifth Avenue, or fashion-forward summer prints to summon visions of tanning in Turks & Caicos? Whatever the style choice, every well-dressed partygoer was most concerned about lauding the sisters Mulleavy. Fur and florals collided at a party hosted by Vogue and Nordstrom Thursday night to honor the opening of designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy’s Rodarte exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. After Lbd-wearing Kirsten Dunst declined to be interviewed (her surprisingly sweet-tempered bodyguard shrugged and mouthed “sorry” to me as she turned and walked away), friendly Ethiopian model and Desert Flower actress Liya Kebede stopped to chat...

In a followup to Tambay’s recent piece about the film Desert Flower (which you can read about here) based on the life of supermodel Waris Dirie with model Lisa Kebede in the role of Dirie, word comes from The Match Company, the Cologne Germany based production company that produced the film, that they are justthisclose towards making a deal with a U.S. distributor for an American theatrical release of the film. Official word regarding details are set for this spring.

News to me… somehow we missed this while it made its film festival run last year.

It’s called Desert Flower, and it’s based on the world best-selling book of the same name by Waris Dirie – an autobiographical tale of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 5, sold in marriage at 13, who became an American supermodel, and is now at the age of 38, the Un spokeswoman against female circumcision.

A UK/Germany/Austria tri-production, the film has already screened in several European countries in the last 6 months, and is scheduled for further Euro-screenings this year. It’s only North American play-date was at the Hamptons International Film Festival last October.

Some names in it you might recognize include Anthony Mackie and Timothy Spall. The director, Sherry Horman, lives and works in Germany, and I’m not at all familiar with her previous work.

Anyone seen this thing? I’m not sure...

Berlin -- Sherry Horman's fashion biopic "Desert Flower" and the political drama "Der Grosse Kater" (The Big Tom-Cat) from director Wolfgang Panzer tied for the top prize as Best Film at the Bavarian Film Awards this weekend.

"Flower" producers Peter Herrmann and Dietmar Guntsche and "Kater" producer Wolfgang Behr will share the €200,000 ($287,000) award that comes with the honor, cash that has to be invested in new film projects.

Acting legend Barbara Sukowa added a Bavarian best actress trophy to her trophy cabinet, taking the honor for her portrayal of Medieval nun and proto-feminist Hildegard von Bingen in "Vision" from Magarethe von Trotta.

Best director went to Juraj Herz for his period drama "Habermann," with lead Mark Waschke taking the best actor prize for his role as a mill owner whose life is transformed with the onset of World War II.

Benjamin Heisenberg received the best newcomer nod for his sophomore effort,...

At the beginning of every month, Ioncinema.com's "Tracking Shot" features a half of a dozen or so projects that are moments away from lensing and that we feel are worth signaling out. This October (2009), we are keeping tabs on.... - At the beginning of every month, Ioncinema.com's "Tracking Shot" features a half of a dozen or so projects that are moments away from lensing and that we feel are worth signaling out. This October (2009), we are keeping tabs on.... Arteta's Youth in Revolt got pushed back to 2010, by then he'll be in post-production with Cedar Rapids. Backed by Ad Hominem and Alexander Payne, hot off The Hangover, Ed Helms will play a sad-sack insurance agent who goes to an industry. convention to try to save the jobs of his colleagues. I imagine the comedy will film in a tax incentive friendly city with a convention center for rent.

Cologne, Germany – Olivia Thirlby will play the lead in "The No Game," the new feature from "Desert Flower" director Sherry Hormann, which Doris Kirch's Blue Angel shingle is producing.

Thirlby will star alongside Marcia Gay Harden and Shohreh Aghdashloo in the story of an adopted Upper West Side Jewish girl who travels to Israel only to discover that her birth parents were Palestinian. Hormann will direct from a script by Elisabeth Fein and David Abramowitz.

Shooting is set to start in March in New York and Israel. The Match Factory is handling international sales.

Cologne, Germany -- Sonke Wortmann's "Pope Joan" crowned Germany's boxoffice this weekend, one of seven German productions or co-productions to make the top ten.

The Constantin Film production, which stars Johanna Wokalek as a 9th century female pontiff, grossed $4.4 million in its first four days, with 370,000 admissions over 461 theaters. The German-Spanish-Italian co-production was shot in English and also stars John Goodman and David Wenham. Summit Entertainment is handling international sales.

German productions crowded out most imports. Simon Verhoeven's romantic comedy "Men In the City," came in at number three, just behind Disney animated family feature "G-Force." A Warner Bros. release, "Men" stars Christian Ulmen, Til Schweiger and Nadja Uhl and has grossed more than $10 million in its first three weeks.

Besides "G-Force," only two other Hollywood titles made the German top ten: "Up," which came in at number five in its fifth week in release and Sony's romcom "The Ugly Truth,...

Madrid -- Cannes Palme d'Or winner "The White Ribbon," directed by Michael Haneke has won the Fipresci Grand Prize to be awarded at the inaugural ceremony of the 57th San Sebastian International Film Festival, organizers announced Thursday, as they unveiled the remaining titles of the Zabaltegi-Pearls section.

The award is chosen by members of the International Federation of Film Critics and will be awarded Sept. 18 at the festival, which runs through the 27th.

"Ribbon" will screen in the festival's Pearls section, which showcases the top films from the world's festivals. Additionally, the festival said it has added Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnussus," Sherry Horman's "Desert Flower" and Rachid Bouchareb's "London River" to the Pearls section, to complement the list of 11 titles announced earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Michael Winterbottom returns to San Sebastian with his newest effort "The Shock Doctrine," a documentary tracing Milton Friedman's ideology.

The 66th edition of the Venice Film Festival lineup includes the main festival plus the sidebar which will be playing films like Yannick Dahan's gangster zombie flick The Horde.

In competition we have the long awaited scifi awesomeness from Jaco Van Dormael, Mr. Nobody and Shinya Tsukamoto's trfiecta Tetsuo the Bulletman.

Out of competition has [Rec] 2 and the Midnight section has Nicolas Refn's long awaited Valhalla Rising which was actually made before Bronson.

Man I wish I could go! Anyone want to cover the fest for us? Use the contact link at the bottom of the page. We'd be happy to do cross-posted reviews.

Full list after the break.

66Th Annual Venice Film Festival Lineup

Competition

"36 vues du Pic Saint Loup," Jacques Rivette (France)

"Accident," Cheang Pou-Soi (China-Hong Kong)

"Baaria," Giuseppe Tornatore (Italy) – Opening Film

"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," Werner Herzog (U.S.)

"Between Two Worlds,...

• Right before the big announcement of films competing for the Golden Lion, the Venice Film Festival announced the Venice Days sidebar selections which is flooded with mostly Euro titles from Spain, Italy and France. The section, the equivalent to Cannes Director's Fortnight, will feature eleven films including nine world premieres and the international preem for Sterlin Harjo’s Barking Water (who we interviewed for his Sundance premiere). Among the list of films that we should look out for in the long term which includes the added six world premieres in the Special Events category, we have Sherry Horman's directorial debut Desert Flower which is not necessarily a rags to riches narrative, but more of a look "where I came from" drama, there is a prison pic from Spanish helmer Daniel Monzon (Celda 211) and legend Claude Miller co-directs with his son Nathan Miller on Je Suis Heureux Che Ma Mere Soit Vivante,

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Rome -- Venice Days, the Venice Film festival's well-regarded sidebar focusing on new directors, will have a European focus in its 6th edition, the first since the return of Venice Days founder Giorgio Gosetti.

The lineup, which so far features a total of 15 world premieres, will include "Desert Flower," based on a book by the same name by Somali model Waris Dirie and directed by Germany's Sherry Horman, "Honeymoons" from Goran Paskaljevic, billed as the first-ever co-production between Albania and Serbia, and the class struggle drama "The Last Days of Emma Blank" from Van Warmerdam,

The only U.S. film in the lineup is "Barking Water," a Native American travel story from Sterlin Harjo.

The sidebar, which is modeled on Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, will again be run by Gosetti, who returned to Venice Days after leaving to held found the Rome International Film Festival in 2006.

Venice Days will take place Sept.

• While Venice remains a fest that strictly selects auteur driven material, Toronto is a beast of a film festival that serves up a huge heaping plate of films rolled up in red carpets. Tiff is also a great place for journalists to follow up on cinematic experiences from Cannes and conduct some in-depth interviews as I plan to do with those behind the Tales From the Golden Age, A Prophet, Dogtooth, Fish Tank and Police, Adjectiv. They'll most likely receive their North American preems at this festival. So what are Cameron and Piers looking at? Read ahead. Usually reserved for the bigger films and Oscar buzz titles, the Galas and Special Presentations section in Toronto should be populated with: the long awaited thriller from Richard Kelly (The Box), Julie Taymor's The Tempest starring Helen Mirren and coincidentally it would make sense for her hubby Taylor Hackford to bring Love Ranch for show.

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Fox Searchlight Pictures released another brand new movie poster from the upcoming film “Notorious” by director George Tillman Jr. (Men of Honor, Soul Food) and starring Angela Bassett (Mama Black Widow), Anthony Mackie (Eagle Eye, Desert Flower), Derek Luke (Madea Goes to Jail), Naturi Naughton and Jamal Woolard as Notorious B.I.G. Synopsis: Notorious is the story of Christopher Wallace who, through raw talent and sheer determination, transforms himself from a Brooklyn street hustler to become the greatest rapper of all time, The Notorious B.I.G. This story charts his meteoric rise to fame and his refusal to succumb to expectation. Produced by Voletta Wallace (Big’s mother), Wayne Barrowman and Mark Pitts (Big’s [...]...

Fox Searchlight Pictures recently released this behind the scenes video from the upcoming film “Notorious” by director George Tillman Jr. (Men of Honor, Soul Food) and starring Angela Bassett (Mama Black Widow), Anthony Mackie (Eagle Eye, Desert Flower), Derek Luke (Madea Goes to Jail), Naturi Naughton and Jamal Woolard as Notorious B.I.G. This video details the dance choreography on the set. For more information, be sure to check out www.notoriousblog.net. Synopsis: Notorious is the story of Christopher Wallace who, through raw talent and sheer determination, transforms himself from a Brooklyn street hustler to become the greatest rapper of all time, The Notorious B.I.G. This story charts his meteoric rise to fame [...]...

Fox Searchlight Pictures recently released this awesome new movie poster from the upcoming film “Notorious” by director George Tillman Jr. (Men of Honor, Soul Food) and starring Angela Bassett (Mama Black Widow), Anthony Mackie (Eagle Eye, Desert Flower), Derek Luke (Madea Goes to Jail), Naturi Naughton and Jamal Woolard as Notorious B.I.G. Synopsis: Notorious is the story of Christopher Wallace who, through raw talent and sheer determination, transforms himself from a Brooklyn street hustler to become the greatest rapper of all time, The Notorious B.I.G. This story charts his meteoric rise to fame and his refusal to succumb to expectation. Produced by Voletta Wallace (Big’s mother), Wayne Barrowman and Mark Pitts [...]...