Yeo Siew Hua, the Singaporean director whose “A Land Imagined” won the Locarno Film Festival’s top prize in 2018, has cast acclaimed Taiwanese actors Lee Kang-Sheng and Wu Chien-Ho (“A Sun”) in his new “Stranger Eyes.”
The film, a thriller with domestic surveillance at its core, is currently shooting. It is set to wrap post-production by early 2024 and start a festival run thereafter. International sales are handled by France’s Playtime.
The Golden Horse-nominated Wu plays Darren, a struggling young father whose baby daughter has gone missing. When mysterious footage appears of his private and intimate life, Darren suspects that his neighbor Goh, a supermarket supervisor, is the voyeur linked to his daughter’s disappearance. Goh is portrayed by Lee, who is best-known for his three-decade-plus collaboration with Golden Lion-winning director Tsai Ming-liang. Increasingly frantic, Darren takes it upon himself to stalk Goh, meaning that the hunted becomes hunter.
“It...
The film, a thriller with domestic surveillance at its core, is currently shooting. It is set to wrap post-production by early 2024 and start a festival run thereafter. International sales are handled by France’s Playtime.
The Golden Horse-nominated Wu plays Darren, a struggling young father whose baby daughter has gone missing. When mysterious footage appears of his private and intimate life, Darren suspects that his neighbor Goh, a supermarket supervisor, is the voyeur linked to his daughter’s disappearance. Goh is portrayed by Lee, who is best-known for his three-decade-plus collaboration with Golden Lion-winning director Tsai Ming-liang. Increasingly frantic, Darren takes it upon himself to stalk Goh, meaning that the hunted becomes hunter.
“It...
- 8/18/2023
- by Patrick Frater and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Selections include new projects from directors Farkhat Sharipov and Ash Mayfair.
The 3rd Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (Tgfm) has unveiled 20 projects selected for financing and development at Tiffcom, the affiliated content market of Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).
Selections include new projects by known directors such as recent Berlinale Generation 14plus prize-winner Farkhat Sharipov (Scheme), Ash Mayfair (The Third Wife) and Tom Waller (The Cave).
Hong Kong’s Toe Yuen, known for Annecy prize-winner My Life As McDull (2001), also has a new animation in the lineup.
Organised by UniJapan, Tgfm will run as part of Tiffcom online October 25-27. The 35th...
The 3rd Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (Tgfm) has unveiled 20 projects selected for financing and development at Tiffcom, the affiliated content market of Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).
Selections include new projects by known directors such as recent Berlinale Generation 14plus prize-winner Farkhat Sharipov (Scheme), Ash Mayfair (The Third Wife) and Tom Waller (The Cave).
Hong Kong’s Toe Yuen, known for Annecy prize-winner My Life As McDull (2001), also has a new animation in the lineup.
Organised by UniJapan, Tgfm will run as part of Tiffcom online October 25-27. The 35th...
- 9/20/2022
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Prolific Singapore-based production company Akanga Film Asia, led by producer Fran Borgia, has revealed a robust film slate, including several global co-productions.
Borgia and filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua teamed on 2018 film “A Land Imagined,” which reaped a rich haul of awards around the world, including top prizes at Locarno, Golden Horse, El Gouna, Pingyao, Singapore and Valladolid. They have now re-teamed on “Stranger Eyes,” which is selected at the ongoing Venice Production Bridge’s gap financing market.
The film follows master of surveillance Inspector Goh, who, as he keeps a close eye on a suspected credit card thief, is drawn into the suspect’s world and starts to see himself in the skin of the perpetrator. As it sets him to question the true meaning of his work, Goh is tasked to track down a serial voyeur on the loose who has been videotaping people’s most private moments.
“It...
Borgia and filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua teamed on 2018 film “A Land Imagined,” which reaped a rich haul of awards around the world, including top prizes at Locarno, Golden Horse, El Gouna, Pingyao, Singapore and Valladolid. They have now re-teamed on “Stranger Eyes,” which is selected at the ongoing Venice Production Bridge’s gap financing market.
The film follows master of surveillance Inspector Goh, who, as he keeps a close eye on a suspected credit card thief, is drawn into the suspect’s world and starts to see himself in the skin of the perpetrator. As it sets him to question the true meaning of his work, Goh is tasked to track down a serial voyeur on the loose who has been videotaping people’s most private moments.
“It...
- 9/2/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Ash Mayfair and Kyoko Miyake are among those included.
Breaking Through The Lens (Bttl), the year-round programme to promote projects by female and non-binary international filmmakers, unveiled its 10 finalists at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (May 17-28).
The participants were chosen from submissions from over 50 countries and pitched their projects to film investors, distributors, and sales agents.
The selection includes Vietnamese-born director Ash Mayfair with If I Had Two Lives, about a surrogate mother who starts re-evaluating her own relationship with her mother and her childhood in a Vietnamese military camp. Mayfair’s feature debut The Third Wife won...
Breaking Through The Lens (Bttl), the year-round programme to promote projects by female and non-binary international filmmakers, unveiled its 10 finalists at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (May 17-28).
The participants were chosen from submissions from over 50 countries and pitched their projects to film investors, distributors, and sales agents.
The selection includes Vietnamese-born director Ash Mayfair with If I Had Two Lives, about a surrogate mother who starts re-evaluating her own relationship with her mother and her childhood in a Vietnamese military camp. Mayfair’s feature debut The Third Wife won...
- 6/6/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
It can take a moment to adjust to the quiet, grave rhythms of the impossibly gorgeous “2000 Songs of Farida,” where the imagemaking is so resplendent as to be disorienting, given how accustomed we are to a cinema in which the pictures primarily serve the storytelling. But Yalkin Tuychiev’s film, which is Uzebkistan’s entry for the international Oscar, is hardly lacking in story: This historical drama is simply told with such grace that its opening scenes feel like snatches of a melody that needs to reach its refrain before we can recognize it as a song — one that harmonizes between the caged bird longing to be free, and the freed bird longing for the comfort and safety of her cage.
The vast backdrop, flattered by the blanched grandeur of Dp Bakhodir Yuldashev’s incredible imagery, is the wilderness where scrubby steppes extend out from the foothills of arid mountains in rural Uzbekistan.
The vast backdrop, flattered by the blanched grandeur of Dp Bakhodir Yuldashev’s incredible imagery, is the wilderness where scrubby steppes extend out from the foothills of arid mountains in rural Uzbekistan.
- 12/17/2021
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
by Nguyễn Minh Tiến
Whether it was on purpose or not, artistic works produced during the last two decades have continued to promote various perspectives of marginalized voices in an overpowering and dominant Eurocentric realm. Movies depicting iconic female individuals, movies about the feminist movement, or movies directed and produced by women have acquired increasing attention, thus are widely recognized in a male-dominated industry like filmmaking. This might signal a gradual shift towards a world in which women have more rights to tell their stories from their points of view. Ash Mayfair’s debut feature movie, “Vợ Ba” (The Third Wife) (2018), follows May’s journey, a fourteen-year-old girl who was brought into a Northern Vietnamese family as the third wife of a silk merchant. This can be recognized as one of few contemporary features that is both told by a female director and put Vietnamese women’s narratives into the global feminist movement conversations.
Whether it was on purpose or not, artistic works produced during the last two decades have continued to promote various perspectives of marginalized voices in an overpowering and dominant Eurocentric realm. Movies depicting iconic female individuals, movies about the feminist movement, or movies directed and produced by women have acquired increasing attention, thus are widely recognized in a male-dominated industry like filmmaking. This might signal a gradual shift towards a world in which women have more rights to tell their stories from their points of view. Ash Mayfair’s debut feature movie, “Vợ Ba” (The Third Wife) (2018), follows May’s journey, a fourteen-year-old girl who was brought into a Northern Vietnamese family as the third wife of a silk merchant. This can be recognized as one of few contemporary features that is both told by a female director and put Vietnamese women’s narratives into the global feminist movement conversations.
- 12/7/2021
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
Helmer’s previous film was 2018 silent comedy The Bra.
German director Veit Helmer has returned to the Caucasus for the third time to shoot his latest feature film Gondola (working title) in the Georgian mountains, following his 2008 Azerbaijan-set Absurdistan and 2018 silent comedy The Bra, set in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Principal photography started last week on a 36-day shoot which is set to run until the end of September. The film tells the story of two female cable car operators who fall in love as pass each other in their gondolas travelling between a mountain village and the town in the valley below.
German director Veit Helmer has returned to the Caucasus for the third time to shoot his latest feature film Gondola (working title) in the Georgian mountains, following his 2008 Azerbaijan-set Absurdistan and 2018 silent comedy The Bra, set in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Principal photography started last week on a 36-day shoot which is set to run until the end of September. The film tells the story of two female cable car operators who fall in love as pass each other in their gondolas travelling between a mountain village and the town in the valley below.
- 8/23/2021
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Reincarnation, artificial consciousness and augmented reality intersect in U.S. director Jake Wachtel’s Cambodia-set “Karmalink,” for which Variety can reveal the first trailer.
The sci-fi mystery will have its world premiere as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week on Sept. 1.
Set in a near-future Phnom Penh, “Karmalink” is about a 13-year-old boy and his street-smart female friend who team up to search for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while traveling across town and also back in time.
But what begins as a hunt for a Buddhist treasure soon leads to greater discoveries in the digital realm that could be either enlightening or obliterating.
Wachtel, who grew up in Palo Alto, started developing the film in 2015, while teaching filmmaking in Phnom Penh. He cast two former students as his leads and shot the film on location after living in their community for several years.
The sci-fi mystery will have its world premiere as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week on Sept. 1.
Set in a near-future Phnom Penh, “Karmalink” is about a 13-year-old boy and his street-smart female friend who team up to search for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while traveling across town and also back in time.
But what begins as a hunt for a Buddhist treasure soon leads to greater discoveries in the digital realm that could be either enlightening or obliterating.
Wachtel, who grew up in Palo Alto, started developing the film in 2015, while teaching filmmaking in Phnom Penh. He cast two former students as his leads and shot the film on location after living in their community for several years.
- 8/20/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Tôn Thất An is a Parisian born Vietnamese composer now based in Taipei, and has been writing for contemporary dance, theatre, film and art projects, and composing instrumental music as well as songs.
In the past four years, he has scored for a string of indie Vietnamese films: ‘The Third Wife’ (2018) and ‘Between Shadow and Soul’ (2019) by Ash Mayfair, ‘Song Lang’ (2018) by Leon Le, ‘Goodbye Mother’ (2019) by Trịnh Đình Lê Minh and ‘Ròm’ (2019) by Trần Thanh Huy. He has also contributed to Naomi Kawase’s ‘True Mothers’ (2020).
He significantly collaborated with Japanese choreographer Jo Kanamori: ‘Nina – materialize sacrifice’ (2005), ‘Play 2 Play’ (2007), ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ (2010), ‘The Dream of the Swan’ (2017) and with Taiwanese dance wunderkind Huang Yi: ‘Symphony Project’ (2010), ‘Double Yellow Line’ (2012) and ‘Special Order’ (2014).
His work as a composer also brought him to the Philharmonie Hall in Berlin where he premiered ‘The Legend of Thánh Gióng’ (2013), a symphonic tale commissioned by The Berlin Symphony Orchestra.
In the past four years, he has scored for a string of indie Vietnamese films: ‘The Third Wife’ (2018) and ‘Between Shadow and Soul’ (2019) by Ash Mayfair, ‘Song Lang’ (2018) by Leon Le, ‘Goodbye Mother’ (2019) by Trịnh Đình Lê Minh and ‘Ròm’ (2019) by Trần Thanh Huy. He has also contributed to Naomi Kawase’s ‘True Mothers’ (2020).
He significantly collaborated with Japanese choreographer Jo Kanamori: ‘Nina – materialize sacrifice’ (2005), ‘Play 2 Play’ (2007), ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ (2010), ‘The Dream of the Swan’ (2017) and with Taiwanese dance wunderkind Huang Yi: ‘Symphony Project’ (2010), ‘Double Yellow Line’ (2012) and ‘Special Order’ (2014).
His work as a composer also brought him to the Philharmonie Hall in Berlin where he premiered ‘The Legend of Thánh Gióng’ (2013), a symphonic tale commissioned by The Berlin Symphony Orchestra.
- 3/23/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Sundance Institute has named the talented group of filmmakers that have been selected for the third class of Momentum Fellows.
The full-year program is a new collaboration with NBCUniversal that gives customized creative and professional support for mid-career writers and directors from underrepresented communities who are poised to take the next step in their careers in fiction and documentary filmmaking. This year’s fellows include Cristina Costantini, Natalie Erika James, Shalini Kantayya, Loira Limbal, Ekwa Msangi, Edson Oda, Jacqueline Olive and Angel Kristi Williams.
The fellowship includes unrestricted grant funding, industry mentorship, professional coaching offered by Renee Freedman & Company supported by The Harnisch Foundation, writing workshops and industry meetings in Spring 2021, and bespoke year-round support from Sundance Institute staff.
Additionally, the FilmTwo Fellowship has merged into the Momentum Fellowship, and NBCUniversal will provide an opportunity for select Momentum fellows working on fiction projects to participate in the Universal Directors Initiative.
The full-year program is a new collaboration with NBCUniversal that gives customized creative and professional support for mid-career writers and directors from underrepresented communities who are poised to take the next step in their careers in fiction and documentary filmmaking. This year’s fellows include Cristina Costantini, Natalie Erika James, Shalini Kantayya, Loira Limbal, Ekwa Msangi, Edson Oda, Jacqueline Olive and Angel Kristi Williams.
The fellowship includes unrestricted grant funding, industry mentorship, professional coaching offered by Renee Freedman & Company supported by The Harnisch Foundation, writing workshops and industry meetings in Spring 2021, and bespoke year-round support from Sundance Institute staff.
Additionally, the FilmTwo Fellowship has merged into the Momentum Fellowship, and NBCUniversal will provide an opportunity for select Momentum fellows working on fiction projects to participate in the Universal Directors Initiative.
- 11/23/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Projects to receive grants include three from Vietnam, two from Thailand and one from Indonesia.
Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures has announced its grantees for autumn 2020, including three projects from the burgeoning Vietnamese film industry.
The three Vietnamese projects, which will receive production grants, include Ash Mayfair’s Skin Of Youth, Pham Thien An’s Inside The Yellow Cocoon Shell, produced by Singapore’s Jeremy Chua, and Minh Quy Truong’s Viet And Nam, produced by Bradley Liew in the Philippines.
The fourth project to receive a Purin Pictures production grant is Thai filmmaker Aekaphong Saransate’s documentary, Breaking The Cycle,...
Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures has announced its grantees for autumn 2020, including three projects from the burgeoning Vietnamese film industry.
The three Vietnamese projects, which will receive production grants, include Ash Mayfair’s Skin Of Youth, Pham Thien An’s Inside The Yellow Cocoon Shell, produced by Singapore’s Jeremy Chua, and Minh Quy Truong’s Viet And Nam, produced by Bradley Liew in the Philippines.
The fourth project to receive a Purin Pictures production grant is Thai filmmaker Aekaphong Saransate’s documentary, Breaking The Cycle,...
- 11/3/2020
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
New releases scarce in the week before ‘Tenet’ hits many markets.
UK-Ireland, opening Friday August 21
It is a quiet weekend for new releases in UK and Irish cinemas, with just two new titles on screens: Sam Quah’s Chinese crime thriller Sheep Without A Shepherd and Grégory Magne’s Perfumes.
Sheep Without A Shepherd reached number one at the Chinese box office following a December 2019 release, and was one of the last blockbuster hits in the country before Covid-19 forced the closure of venues in January. It was re-released on July 20, following the reopening of some cinemas.
Released by Trinity Film...
UK-Ireland, opening Friday August 21
It is a quiet weekend for new releases in UK and Irish cinemas, with just two new titles on screens: Sam Quah’s Chinese crime thriller Sheep Without A Shepherd and Grégory Magne’s Perfumes.
Sheep Without A Shepherd reached number one at the Chinese box office following a December 2019 release, and was one of the last blockbuster hits in the country before Covid-19 forced the closure of venues in January. It was re-released on July 20, following the reopening of some cinemas.
Released by Trinity Film...
- 8/21/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦¬1101325¦Gabriele Niola¦35¦¬158¦Martin Blaney¦40¦
- ScreenDaily
New releases scarce in the week before ‘Tenet’ hits many markets.
UK-Ireland, opening Friday August 21
It is a quiet weekend for new releases in UK and Irish cinemas, with just two new titles on screens: Sam Quah’s Chinese crime thriller Sheep Without A Shepherd and Grégory Magne’s Perfumes.
Sheep Without A Shepherd reached number one at the Chinese box office following a December 2019 release, and was one of the last blockbuster hits in the country before Covid-19 forced the closure of venues in January. It was re-released on July 20, following the reopening of some cinemas.
Released by Trinity Film...
UK-Ireland, opening Friday August 21
It is a quiet weekend for new releases in UK and Irish cinemas, with just two new titles on screens: Sam Quah’s Chinese crime thriller Sheep Without A Shepherd and Grégory Magne’s Perfumes.
Sheep Without A Shepherd reached number one at the Chinese box office following a December 2019 release, and was one of the last blockbuster hits in the country before Covid-19 forced the closure of venues in January. It was re-released on July 20, following the reopening of some cinemas.
Released by Trinity Film...
- 8/21/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦¬1101325¦Gabriele Niola¦35¦¬158¦Martin Blaney¦40¦
- ScreenDaily
The Asian Film Festival, directed by Antonio Termenini, presents a selection of the best of Asian research and independent cinema, with particular attention to debuts and young directors of the rich Newcomers section.
The seventeenth edition of the Asian Film Festival presents 27 feature films and 3 short films from 10 East Asian countries and will take place, from July 30 to August 5, at Casa del Cinema, Villa Borghese Park, Rome.
The afternoon screenings will be in the comfort of the Deluxe Room, the evening ones in the Ettore Scola Open Air Theater, to enjoy the films in serenity and in the cool of the park.
8 feature films from the Philippines will celebrate 100 years of Filipino cinema with the best of the most recent productions.The closing evening also will feature the Filipino “Kalel, 15” by Jun Lana, the story of a difficult adolescence in the Manila slums. Saturday 1 August will be Korean Day – a...
The seventeenth edition of the Asian Film Festival presents 27 feature films and 3 short films from 10 East Asian countries and will take place, from July 30 to August 5, at Casa del Cinema, Villa Borghese Park, Rome.
The afternoon screenings will be in the comfort of the Deluxe Room, the evening ones in the Ettore Scola Open Air Theater, to enjoy the films in serenity and in the cool of the park.
8 feature films from the Philippines will celebrate 100 years of Filipino cinema with the best of the most recent productions.The closing evening also will feature the Filipino “Kalel, 15” by Jun Lana, the story of a difficult adolescence in the Manila slums. Saturday 1 August will be Korean Day – a...
- 7/26/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
La Fabrique Cinéma, the French support program aimed at young filmmakers from emerging countries, presented a wide-ranging showcase of works from around the world at the Cannes online market on Tuesday, among them new works by Iranian filmmaker Keywann Karimi (“Drum”) and Thai helmer Sompot Chidgasornpongse (“Railway Sleepers”).
They are among 10 filmmakers taking part in the Institut Français’ La Fabrique Cinéma program, presenting projects in various stages of development with the aim of finding co-production partners.
The works explore such topical issues as the trauma of war and imprisonment, religion, gender identity, migration, mental illness, love and family.
In “Do You Know Anything About Omid?” Karimi tells the story of a middle-aged couple in Tehran who set off in search of their beloved cat, who has disappeared. The film examines 1980s Iran, right after the revolution, when many people were imprisoned and political prisoners, including communists, were executed.
“My film...
They are among 10 filmmakers taking part in the Institut Français’ La Fabrique Cinéma program, presenting projects in various stages of development with the aim of finding co-production partners.
The works explore such topical issues as the trauma of war and imprisonment, religion, gender identity, migration, mental illness, love and family.
In “Do You Know Anything About Omid?” Karimi tells the story of a middle-aged couple in Tehran who set off in search of their beloved cat, who has disappeared. The film examines 1980s Iran, right after the revolution, when many people were imprisoned and political prisoners, including communists, were executed.
“My film...
- 6/24/2020
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Vietnamese drama Between Shadow And Soul, Polish thriller Sword Of God also join roster.
Icelandic Oscar submission A White, White Day is one of three new international additions to Film Movement’s Virtual Cinema that will get their first-run North American launch on the digital platform.
Vietnamese drama Between Shadow And Soul and Polish thriller Sword Of God also join the roster, which New York distributor Film Movement set up with Art House Convergence last month in response to theatre closures amid the coronavirus pandemic, launching with five titles.
Since then more than 275 theatres across North America including Laemmle Theatres,...
Icelandic Oscar submission A White, White Day is one of three new international additions to Film Movement’s Virtual Cinema that will get their first-run North American launch on the digital platform.
Vietnamese drama Between Shadow And Soul and Polish thriller Sword Of God also join the roster, which New York distributor Film Movement set up with Art House Convergence last month in response to theatre closures amid the coronavirus pandemic, launching with five titles.
Since then more than 275 theatres across North America including Laemmle Theatres,...
- 4/8/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Vietnamese drama Between Shadow And Soul, Polish thriller Sword Of God also join roster.
Icelandic Oscar submission A White, White Day is one of three new international additions to Film Movement’s Virtual Cinema that will get their first-run North American launch on the digital platform.
Vietnamese drama Between Shadow And Soul and Polish thriller Sword Of God also join the roster, which New York distributor Film Movement set up with Art House Convergence last month in response to theatre closures amid the coronavirus pandemic, launching with five titles.
Since then more than 275 theatres across North America including Laemmle Theatres,...
Icelandic Oscar submission A White, White Day is one of three new international additions to Film Movement’s Virtual Cinema that will get their first-run North American launch on the digital platform.
Vietnamese drama Between Shadow And Soul and Polish thriller Sword Of God also join the roster, which New York distributor Film Movement set up with Art House Convergence last month in response to theatre closures amid the coronavirus pandemic, launching with five titles.
Since then more than 275 theatres across North America including Laemmle Theatres,...
- 4/8/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Breaking Through The Lens, an initiative launched three years ago to promote emerging female directors, has unveiled the shortlist of projects vying to participate in the 3rd edition of its pitching platform set to take place during the Cannes Film Festival.
The selected projects, which will be pitched to over 100 financiers and key industry people during Cannes, were announced during the European Film Market on Feb. 25.
Spanning 13 countries, this year’s shortlist of 20 titles includes Tamika Guishard’s African dance-driven feature “Rhythm in Blues;” Daresha Kyi’s U.S. documentary “Mama Bears” which follows conservative Christian mothers whose lives are transformed as they accept their Lgbtq children; Ahd Kamel’s Saudi Arabian feature “My Driver and I” set in 80s and 90s and centering on an unlikely friendship between a privileged Saudi girl and her Nubian driver; and Laura Moss’ feature debut “Birth/Rebirth,” a female-driven Frankenstein adaptation.
Set to be announced in early April,...
The selected projects, which will be pitched to over 100 financiers and key industry people during Cannes, were announced during the European Film Market on Feb. 25.
Spanning 13 countries, this year’s shortlist of 20 titles includes Tamika Guishard’s African dance-driven feature “Rhythm in Blues;” Daresha Kyi’s U.S. documentary “Mama Bears” which follows conservative Christian mothers whose lives are transformed as they accept their Lgbtq children; Ahd Kamel’s Saudi Arabian feature “My Driver and I” set in 80s and 90s and centering on an unlikely friendship between a privileged Saudi girl and her Nubian driver; and Laura Moss’ feature debut “Birth/Rebirth,” a female-driven Frankenstein adaptation.
Set to be announced in early April,...
- 2/25/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix may get most of the attention, but it’s hardly a one-stop shop for cinephiles who are looking to stream essential classic and contemporary films. Each of the prominent streaming platforms caters to its own niche of film obsessives.
From chilling horror fare on Shudder, to the boundless wonders of the Criterion Channel, and esoteric (but unmissable) festival hits on Film Movement Plus and Ovid.tv, IndieWire’s monthly guide highlights the best of what’s coming to every major streaming site, with an eye towards exclusive titles that may help readers decide which of these services is right for them.
Here’s the best of the best for February 2020.
“Close-Up”
The Criterion Channel invariably offers the deepest and most compelling slate of any streaming service, but this month’s additions almost border on overkill; how is anyone supposed to choose where to start? The programming lineup kicks off...
From chilling horror fare on Shudder, to the boundless wonders of the Criterion Channel, and esoteric (but unmissable) festival hits on Film Movement Plus and Ovid.tv, IndieWire’s monthly guide highlights the best of what’s coming to every major streaming site, with an eye towards exclusive titles that may help readers decide which of these services is right for them.
Here’s the best of the best for February 2020.
“Close-Up”
The Criterion Channel invariably offers the deepest and most compelling slate of any streaming service, but this month’s additions almost border on overkill; how is anyone supposed to choose where to start? The programming lineup kicks off...
- 2/10/2020
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The 35th annual Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent cinema, took place Saturday in Santa Monica.
Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” won best picture, while Adam Sandler and Renee Zellweger took home the top acting prizes.
Full list of winners.
Best Feature
A Hidden Life
Clemency
The Farewell (Winner)
Marriage Story
Uncut Gems
Best Director
Robert Eggers – The Lighthouse
Alma Har’el – Honey Boy
Julius Onah – Luce
Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Lorene Scafaria – Hustlers
Best First Feature
Booksmart (Winner)
The Climb
Diane
The Last Black Man In San Francisco
The Mustang
See You Yesterday
Best Female Lead
Karen Allen – Colewell
Hong Chau – Driveways
Elisabeth Moss – Her Smell
Mary Kay Place – Diane
Alfre Woodard – Clemency
Renée Zellweger – Judy (Winner)
Best Male Lead
Chris Galust – Give Me Liberty
Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Luce
Robert Pattinson – The Lighthouse
Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Matthias Schoenaerts – The Mustang
Best Supporting Female
Jennifer Lopez...
Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” won best picture, while Adam Sandler and Renee Zellweger took home the top acting prizes.
Full list of winners.
Best Feature
A Hidden Life
Clemency
The Farewell (Winner)
Marriage Story
Uncut Gems
Best Director
Robert Eggers – The Lighthouse
Alma Har’el – Honey Boy
Julius Onah – Luce
Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Lorene Scafaria – Hustlers
Best First Feature
Booksmart (Winner)
The Climb
Diane
The Last Black Man In San Francisco
The Mustang
See You Yesterday
Best Female Lead
Karen Allen – Colewell
Hong Chau – Driveways
Elisabeth Moss – Her Smell
Mary Kay Place – Diane
Alfre Woodard – Clemency
Renée Zellweger – Judy (Winner)
Best Male Lead
Chris Galust – Give Me Liberty
Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Luce
Robert Pattinson – The Lighthouse
Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Matthias Schoenaerts – The Mustang
Best Supporting Female
Jennifer Lopez...
- 2/8/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Aubrey Plaza will return to host the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday in Santa Monica.
The 35th annual Spirit Awards are set to air live on the IFC Channel beginning at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt. The network will live stream the ceremony on its website, though audiences will need a cable login to watch. TV subscribers can also watch the show live on IFC app’s, available on iOS and Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, and Android TV devices.
This year’s top Spirit Award nominees include Robert Pattinson’s “The Lighthouse” and Adam Sandler’s “Uncut Gems,” with five nods each. Shia Labeouf’s “Honey Boy” and Kirill Mikhanovsky’s scored four nominations.
“Uncut Gems,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency,” Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” are up for best feature.
Here’s the full...
The 35th annual Spirit Awards are set to air live on the IFC Channel beginning at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt. The network will live stream the ceremony on its website, though audiences will need a cable login to watch. TV subscribers can also watch the show live on IFC app’s, available on iOS and Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, and Android TV devices.
This year’s top Spirit Award nominees include Robert Pattinson’s “The Lighthouse” and Adam Sandler’s “Uncut Gems,” with five nods each. Shia Labeouf’s “Honey Boy” and Kirill Mikhanovsky’s scored four nominations.
“Uncut Gems,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency,” Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” are up for best feature.
Here’s the full...
- 2/8/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
New films from Pepa San Martín and Golden Bear winner Adina Pintilie among the line up.
The films selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 22-26) have been revealed and top 50% by female directors in the official project selection for the first time.
Scroll down for full list of titles
A total of 36 features from 34 countries will be showcased by producers seeking co-production partners through one-to-one meetings with distributors, financiers and sales agents.
For the official project selection, 21 projects with budgets ranging from €750,000 to €5m were selected from more than 300 submissions. With 11 projects by female directors, the proportion here has exceeded 50% for the first time.
The films selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 22-26) have been revealed and top 50% by female directors in the official project selection for the first time.
Scroll down for full list of titles
A total of 36 features from 34 countries will be showcased by producers seeking co-production partners through one-to-one meetings with distributors, financiers and sales agents.
For the official project selection, 21 projects with budgets ranging from €750,000 to €5m were selected from more than 300 submissions. With 11 projects by female directors, the proportion here has exceeded 50% for the first time.
- 1/15/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
“First Cow” director Kelly Reichardt has been given a $50,000 Film Independent Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grant designed to recognize a mid-career female director.
Reichardt won the third annual Bonnie Award, named for Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, who became the first woman to pilot a major U.S. airline when she joined the award’s sponsor, American Airlines, in 1973.
Actress Alfre Woodard and filmmaker Jon M. Chu presented the award, one of four grants given out by Film Independent at its nominees brunch at the Boa Steakhouse in West Hollywood on Saturday.
Also Read: 'The Lighthouse,' 'Uncut Gems' Lead Nominees at Independent Spirit Awards
In addition to the $50,000 Bonnie Award, $25,000 unrestricted grants were given to an up-and-coming producer (Molly Asher), director (Rashaad Ernesto Green) and documentary director (Nadia Shihab).
Winners in the rest of the Spirit Awards categories will be announced during the main Spirit Awards show on Saturday, Feb. 4.
The...
Reichardt won the third annual Bonnie Award, named for Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, who became the first woman to pilot a major U.S. airline when she joined the award’s sponsor, American Airlines, in 1973.
Actress Alfre Woodard and filmmaker Jon M. Chu presented the award, one of four grants given out by Film Independent at its nominees brunch at the Boa Steakhouse in West Hollywood on Saturday.
Also Read: 'The Lighthouse,' 'Uncut Gems' Lead Nominees at Independent Spirit Awards
In addition to the $50,000 Bonnie Award, $25,000 unrestricted grants were given to an up-and-coming producer (Molly Asher), director (Rashaad Ernesto Green) and documentary director (Nadia Shihab).
Winners in the rest of the Spirit Awards categories will be announced during the main Spirit Awards show on Saturday, Feb. 4.
The...
- 1/4/2020
- by Steve Pond and Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Best international film nominees include Parasite, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire and The Souvenir.
Uncut Gems has emerged as the top contender among nominees for this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, with the Adam Sandler drama getting nominations in five categories including best feature.
Other best feature nominees are A Hidden Life, Clemency, The Farewell and Marriage Story.
The Lighthouse also got five Spirit Award nominations and other films with multiple citations included Give Me Liberty and Honey Boy with four each and Clemency, Hustlers, The Last Black Man In San Francisco, Luce, Marriage Story and The Third Wife with three each.
Uncut Gems has emerged as the top contender among nominees for this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, with the Adam Sandler drama getting nominations in five categories including best feature.
Other best feature nominees are A Hidden Life, Clemency, The Farewell and Marriage Story.
The Lighthouse also got five Spirit Award nominations and other films with multiple citations included Give Me Liberty and Honey Boy with four each and Clemency, Hustlers, The Last Black Man In San Francisco, Luce, Marriage Story and The Third Wife with three each.
- 11/21/2019
- ScreenDaily
The 2020 Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced Thursday, November 21. So who made the cut at these kudos, which celebrate the best in American independent films? Scroll down to see the full list of nominees for the 2020 Indie Spirits. Remember, only American-made movies with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration.
These Spirit contenders were decided by nominating committees that included film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
Winners will be chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who sign up for membership starting at $95 per year.
These awards have come to be a significant preview of the Oscars as the motion picture academy embraces more independent films. Five of the last six Spirit champs for Best Feature went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
These Spirit contenders were decided by nominating committees that included film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
Winners will be chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who sign up for membership starting at $95 per year.
These awards have come to be a significant preview of the Oscars as the motion picture academy embraces more independent films. Five of the last six Spirit champs for Best Feature went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
- 11/21/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The nominations for the 35th Independent Spirit Awards have been announced, and it was a big morning for “The Lighthouse” and “Uncut Gems.” The annual indie awards ceremony is presented by Film Independent and takes place the day before the Academy Awards on the beach in Santa Monica, California. The Spirit Awards have become known over the last decade for showcasing nominees that are a mix of underdog films and higher-profile awards contenders.
It’s important to note the Indie Spirit Awards has a budget ceiling of $22.5 million, meaning any movie made for more than this amount is ineligible for nominations. For this reason, Martin Scorsese’s Netflix-backed “The Irishman” was not eligible for 2020 nominations (the film had a budget north of $150 million). Netflix’s other top Oscar contender, Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” is eligible for Spirit Awards and landed a Best Feature nomination. As has become common over the last several years,...
It’s important to note the Indie Spirit Awards has a budget ceiling of $22.5 million, meaning any movie made for more than this amount is ineligible for nominations. For this reason, Martin Scorsese’s Netflix-backed “The Irishman” was not eligible for 2020 nominations (the film had a budget north of $150 million). Netflix’s other top Oscar contender, Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” is eligible for Spirit Awards and landed a Best Feature nomination. As has become common over the last several years,...
- 11/21/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Indonesian project Autobiography and Skin Of Youth from Vietnam jointly won the Open Sea Fund Award
Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, to be directed by the Philippines’ Petersen Vargas, won the $15,000 Seafic Award at the conclusion of this year’s Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (Seafic).
Produced by Alemberg Ang and Jade Castro, the project follows a rich teenage runaway who joins a band of street hustlers on a road trip. The cash prize is sponsored by Thailand’s Purin Foundation.
Meanwhile, the Open Sea Fund Award, jointly sponsored by Vs Service and White Light Post, was shared by Autobiography,...
Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, to be directed by the Philippines’ Petersen Vargas, won the $15,000 Seafic Award at the conclusion of this year’s Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (Seafic).
Produced by Alemberg Ang and Jade Castro, the project follows a rich teenage runaway who joins a band of street hustlers on a road trip. The cash prize is sponsored by Thailand’s Purin Foundation.
Meanwhile, the Open Sea Fund Award, jointly sponsored by Vs Service and White Light Post, was shared by Autobiography,...
- 10/31/2019
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Japanese writer Nakai Nomie’s “Topography of Solitude” won the Busan Award, top prize at the Asian Project Market, part of the Busan International Film Festival. Sponsored by Busan Metropolitan City, the award comes with a $15,000 cash prize.
“Topography” revolves around a woman who works for a company that hires people to pretend to be relatives of random strangers. She uses her fake relationships for a revenge mission when her boyfriend is killed by police.
China’s Hu Jia (“The Taste of Betel Nut”) won the Mas Award and a cash prize of $20,000 for his thriller comedy project “The Courier Always Knocks Twice.” “Courier” presents the story of a scriptwriter who discovers that the protagonist of his horror stories may actually be his true self.
The Cj Entertainment award, which commits $10,000 in cash to an international project, was won by Philippines director Antoinette Jadaone’s comedy drama “Boldstar.” The Lotte award,...
“Topography” revolves around a woman who works for a company that hires people to pretend to be relatives of random strangers. She uses her fake relationships for a revenge mission when her boyfriend is killed by police.
China’s Hu Jia (“The Taste of Betel Nut”) won the Mas Award and a cash prize of $20,000 for his thriller comedy project “The Courier Always Knocks Twice.” “Courier” presents the story of a scriptwriter who discovers that the protagonist of his horror stories may actually be his true self.
The Cj Entertainment award, which commits $10,000 in cash to an international project, was won by Philippines director Antoinette Jadaone’s comedy drama “Boldstar.” The Lotte award,...
- 10/8/2019
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
“Girls need to see positive and authentic characters that can inspire them”.
The world’s most popular films are sending a message to girls and young women that leadership is mostly for men, according to new research from development organisation Plan International and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
Even if women are portrayed in positions of leadership, they are still shown as sex objects in most films.
The research, which analysed the 56 top-grossing films of 2018 in 20 countries, found that of the characters in leadership positions, women and girls are four times more likely than male characters to...
The world’s most popular films are sending a message to girls and young women that leadership is mostly for men, according to new research from development organisation Plan International and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
Even if women are portrayed in positions of leadership, they are still shown as sex objects in most films.
The research, which analysed the 56 top-grossing films of 2018 in 20 countries, found that of the characters in leadership positions, women and girls are four times more likely than male characters to...
- 10/1/2019
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.
The Sound of Silence (Michael Tyburski)
What if our happiness wasn’t solely predicated on our fruitful relationships, career success, or spiritual fulfillment, but rather the sounds around us? It’s this idea that drives music theorist and self-proclaimed house tuner Peter (Peter Sarsgaard) to the point of maddening obsession in The Sound of Silence. The directorial debut of Michael Tyburski has a compelling hook as we go on this journey of aural perfection, but the follow-through leaves something to be desired. In terms of its thematic predecessors, The Conversation and Blow Out set an impossibly high bar, but even the narrative propulsion of those classics...
The Sound of Silence (Michael Tyburski)
What if our happiness wasn’t solely predicated on our fruitful relationships, career success, or spiritual fulfillment, but rather the sounds around us? It’s this idea that drives music theorist and self-proclaimed house tuner Peter (Peter Sarsgaard) to the point of maddening obsession in The Sound of Silence. The directorial debut of Michael Tyburski has a compelling hook as we go on this journey of aural perfection, but the follow-through leaves something to be desired. In terms of its thematic predecessors, The Conversation and Blow Out set an impossibly high bar, but even the narrative propulsion of those classics...
- 9/13/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Santiago, Chile French director Mikhael Hers’ “Amanda” scooped up the Best Int’l Film award Saturday (Aug. 24) at the 15th Santiago Int’l Film Fest (Sanfic), which reported a 20% audience uptick in the past two years and continues to grow its reputation as the most vibrant and prominent film festival in Latin America’s Southern cone.
Hailed by Variety critic Guy Lodge as a “nourishingly classical tear-jerker as well as a glowing valentine to Paris’s endurance in the age of modern terrorism,” Hers’ third feature has been collecting a raft of trophies since its world premiere at Venice last year, including Venice’s Golden Lantern Award as well as the Grand Prix and Best Screenplay awards at Tokyo.
Colombia’s Alejandro Landes, best known for his career-launching drama, “Porfirio,” snagged the best director prize for “Monos,” his apocalyptic vision of a rebel group of teenagers in the jungle, while...
Hailed by Variety critic Guy Lodge as a “nourishingly classical tear-jerker as well as a glowing valentine to Paris’s endurance in the age of modern terrorism,” Hers’ third feature has been collecting a raft of trophies since its world premiere at Venice last year, including Venice’s Golden Lantern Award as well as the Grand Prix and Best Screenplay awards at Tokyo.
Colombia’s Alejandro Landes, best known for his career-launching drama, “Porfirio,” snagged the best director prize for “Monos,” his apocalyptic vision of a rebel group of teenagers in the jungle, while...
- 8/25/2019
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Set to open Aug. 18 with two of Latin America’s biggest stars, Gael Garcia Bernal and Wagner Moura (“Narcos”), the 15th edition of Chile’s Santiago Int’l Film Festival (Sanfic) promises a focus on women directors and producers as it hosts a Women’s Encounter and Chile’s audiovisual guilds ink a pact to safeguard against sexual harassment in the work place.
The fest will kick off with Moura’s controversial directorial debut, “Marighella,” after bestowing career recognition awards on Garcia Bernal and Argentine thesp Graciela Borges.
On day two, Moura will participate in an Actor’s Studio interview open to the public, said Sanfic artistic director Carlos Nuñez and industry head Gabriela Sandoval, partners at Storyboard Media who jointly run the festival.
Three competitive sections – international, Chilean and shorts – will include cash prizes. The international, jury – Borges, Uruguayan producer Sandino Saravia (“Roma”) and Chilean director/editor Valeria Sarmiento,...
The fest will kick off with Moura’s controversial directorial debut, “Marighella,” after bestowing career recognition awards on Garcia Bernal and Argentine thesp Graciela Borges.
On day two, Moura will participate in an Actor’s Studio interview open to the public, said Sanfic artistic director Carlos Nuñez and industry head Gabriela Sandoval, partners at Storyboard Media who jointly run the festival.
Three competitive sections – international, Chilean and shorts – will include cash prizes. The international, jury – Borges, Uruguayan producer Sandino Saravia (“Roma”) and Chilean director/editor Valeria Sarmiento,...
- 8/9/2019
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Line-up includes new titles from Yosep Anggi Noen, Hussein Hassan, Ash Mayfair and Hu Jia.
Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market has unveiled the 29 projects selected for this year’s edition of the financing and co-production event (October 6-8).
The line-up includes Silah And The Man With Two Names, the new project from Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen, whose latest film The Science Of Fictions will premiere in competition at this year’s Locarno.
Other projects of note include Black And White Photo, from Nepali filmmaker Rajesh Prasad Khatri, which received development funding from Biff’s Asian Cinema Fund...
Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market has unveiled the 29 projects selected for this year’s edition of the financing and co-production event (October 6-8).
The line-up includes Silah And The Man With Two Names, the new project from Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen, whose latest film The Science Of Fictions will premiere in competition at this year’s Locarno.
Other projects of note include Black And White Photo, from Nepali filmmaker Rajesh Prasad Khatri, which received development funding from Biff’s Asian Cinema Fund...
- 8/8/2019
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
“What did you do to bring this upon us?”
In her statement about her debut feature “The Third Wife”, director Ash Mayfair states two main reasons why she made the film and which topics it deals with. On the one hand, she names her upbringing in Vietnam, most importantly the women in her life who have supported her through the years. Given her career, which has led her to a degree in English Literature and one in Theater Directing from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, large parts of her biography have taken place outside her home country. Yet, as her statement and the nature of “The Third Wife” prove, she has returned there for her directorial debut paying homage to the women who have been most important in her life.
On the other hand, the movie deals with the matter of arranged and child marriage.
In her statement about her debut feature “The Third Wife”, director Ash Mayfair states two main reasons why she made the film and which topics it deals with. On the one hand, she names her upbringing in Vietnam, most importantly the women in her life who have supported her through the years. Given her career, which has led her to a degree in English Literature and one in Theater Directing from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, large parts of her biography have taken place outside her home country. Yet, as her statement and the nature of “The Third Wife” prove, she has returned there for her directorial debut paying homage to the women who have been most important in her life.
On the other hand, the movie deals with the matter of arranged and child marriage.
- 7/19/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
As part of their line-up for August Eureka’ Entertainment will release Ash Mayfair’s critically acclaimed “The Third Wife“.
Synopsis
A winner of the Spike Lee Production Fund, and inspired by the history of director Ash Mayfair’s family, The Third Wife is a coming-of-age story; a tale of love and self-discovery in a time when women were rarely given a voice.
In the late 19th century in rural Vietnam, fourteen-year-old May is given away in an arranged marriage and becomes the third wife to her older husband. May learns that she can gain status and security if she gives birth to a male child. This becomes a real possibility when she gets pregnant. However, her path is fraught with danger when May starts to develop an attraction for Xuan, the second wife. As May observes the unfolding tragedy of forbidden love and its devastating consequences, she must make a choice,...
Synopsis
A winner of the Spike Lee Production Fund, and inspired by the history of director Ash Mayfair’s family, The Third Wife is a coming-of-age story; a tale of love and self-discovery in a time when women were rarely given a voice.
In the late 19th century in rural Vietnam, fourteen-year-old May is given away in an arranged marriage and becomes the third wife to her older husband. May learns that she can gain status and security if she gives birth to a male child. This becomes a real possibility when she gets pregnant. However, her path is fraught with danger when May starts to develop an attraction for Xuan, the second wife. As May observes the unfolding tragedy of forbidden love and its devastating consequences, she must make a choice,...
- 6/7/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Vietnamese director Ash Mayfair has issued a defiant defense of her debut feature The Third Wife following controversy over intimate scenes involving the film’s young female star that led to the production being withdrawn from cinemas in the country.
“I am speaking up for artists and for the right to create,” Mayfair told The Hollywood Reporter, in her first public comments since the film was withdrawn from cinemas in Vietnam last Tuesday.
“This [controversy] cannot make Vietnamese artists afraid to express their viewpoint.”
The Third Wife’s release in Vietnam on May 17 sparked debate in the country’s ...
“I am speaking up for artists and for the right to create,” Mayfair told The Hollywood Reporter, in her first public comments since the film was withdrawn from cinemas in Vietnam last Tuesday.
“This [controversy] cannot make Vietnamese artists afraid to express their viewpoint.”
The Third Wife’s release in Vietnam on May 17 sparked debate in the country’s ...
- 5/31/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Vietnamese director Ash Mayfair has issued a defiant defense of her debut feature, The Third Wife, following controversy over intimate scenes involving the film’s young female star that led to the production being withdrawn from cinemas in the country.
“I am speaking up for artists and for the right to create,” Mayfair told The Hollywood Reporter, in her first public comments since the film was withdrawn from cinemas in Vietnam last Tuesday.
“This [controversy] cannot make Vietnamese artists afraid to express their viewpoint.”
The Third Wife’s release in Vietnam on May 17 sparked debate in the country’...
“I am speaking up for artists and for the right to create,” Mayfair told The Hollywood Reporter, in her first public comments since the film was withdrawn from cinemas in Vietnam last Tuesday.
“This [controversy] cannot make Vietnamese artists afraid to express their viewpoint.”
The Third Wife’s release in Vietnam on May 17 sparked debate in the country’...
- 5/31/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Cross-city transport unties people from different faiths, backgrounds.
Film Movement has picked up North American rights to Amos Gitai’s Venice 2018 award winner A Tramway In Jerusalem, featuring an ensemble that includes Mathieu Amalric.
The Israeli filmmaker’s latest feature is a multi-cultural drama exploring the cultural divides that separate the inhabitants of one of the world’s most iconic cities, as different religions mingle on the Light Rail Red Line of Jerusalem’s tramway that connects the city from East to West, from the Palestinian neighborhoods of Shuafat and Beit Hanina to Mount Herzl, site of Israel’s national cemetery.
Film Movement has picked up North American rights to Amos Gitai’s Venice 2018 award winner A Tramway In Jerusalem, featuring an ensemble that includes Mathieu Amalric.
The Israeli filmmaker’s latest feature is a multi-cultural drama exploring the cultural divides that separate the inhabitants of one of the world’s most iconic cities, as different religions mingle on the Light Rail Red Line of Jerusalem’s tramway that connects the city from East to West, from the Palestinian neighborhoods of Shuafat and Beit Hanina to Mount Herzl, site of Israel’s national cemetery.
- 5/31/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Tilda Swinton and daughter Honor Swinton Byrne play mother and daughter in writer-director Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir, which took the World Cinema – Dramatic prize at the Sundance Film Festival, where it debuted in January. In fact, the filmmaking team already is readying their follow-up even as the first installment heads to several theaters this weekend via A24. Roadside Attractions took rights to Telluride premiere Trial by Fire last fall. Starring Laura Dern and Jack O’Connell, the title takes on the death penalty, based on a true story. Amazon Studios is heading out with Sundance debut Photograph by Ritesh Batra in over a half-dozen markets, while Magnolia Pictures is going day-and-date with sci-fi title Aniara, which it acquired out of last year’s Toronto. Samuel Goldwyn Films is “counterprogramming” the early-summer blockbuster season with All Creatures Here Below starring Karen Gillan and David Dastmalchian.
Other limited releases this weekend...
Other limited releases this weekend...
- 5/17/2019
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline Film + TV
The Third Wife marks the ambitious debut of Vietnamese director Ash Mayfair, who gained her Mfa from NYU. Set in the late 19th century, her film tracks the fortunes of 14-year-old Mây (Nguyễn Phương Trà My), who is selected as the third wife of a much older man, who expects her to bear him a son. Her life in rural Vietnam becomes further complicated as she begins to develop feelings for the second wife Xuân (Mai Thu Hường) and as pressure builds in the family. Shot by Chananun Chotrungroj, the film largely uses natural light and […]...
- 5/17/2019
- by Amber Wilkinson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Third Wife marks the ambitious debut of Vietnamese director Ash Mayfair, who gained her Mfa from NYU. Set in the late 19th century, her film tracks the fortunes of 14-year-old Mây (Nguyễn Phương Trà My), who is selected as the third wife of a much older man, who expects her to bear him a son. Her life in rural Vietnam becomes further complicated as she begins to develop feelings for the second wife Xuân (Mai Thu Hường) and as pressure builds in the family. Shot by Chananun Chotrungroj, the film largely uses natural light and […]...
- 5/17/2019
- by Amber Wilkinson
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
We like to believe that whatever we may desire simply stems from Mother Nature, but how often do we take action— how much do we long for—simply because of what we’re told throughout our upbringing? “Just pretend that you like it, so that he will like it. One day you will like it for real,” young May is told, after her wedding night. The bloody sheet is hung for all to see.
Read More: the 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019
May (Nguyen Phuong Tra My) is only 14.
Continue reading ‘The Third Wife’: Ash Mayfair’s First Feature Is A Necessary Commentary On Female Subjugation And Moral Hypocrisy [Review] at The Playlist.
Read More: the 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019
May (Nguyen Phuong Tra My) is only 14.
Continue reading ‘The Third Wife’: Ash Mayfair’s First Feature Is A Necessary Commentary On Female Subjugation And Moral Hypocrisy [Review] at The Playlist.
- 5/15/2019
- by Andrew Bundy
- The Playlist
Dubai-based Cercamon handles worldwide sales on Bronx-set tale.
Film Movement has acquired North American rights to Goldie, Sam de Jong’s coming-of-age story that premiered in Generation 14 Plus in Berlin and is being sold in Cannes by Dubai-based Cercamon.
‘Instagirl’ supermodel Slick Woods makes her acting debut as the titular character in the Bronx-set tale about a streetwise teen who discovers her true strength when her dream of becoming a dancer collides with harsh reality.
The drama, Dutch filmmaker de Jong’s follow-up to his 2015 feature debut Prince, screened at Tribeca Film Festival last month and hails from Twentieth Century Fox and Vice Films.
Film Movement has acquired North American rights to Goldie, Sam de Jong’s coming-of-age story that premiered in Generation 14 Plus in Berlin and is being sold in Cannes by Dubai-based Cercamon.
‘Instagirl’ supermodel Slick Woods makes her acting debut as the titular character in the Bronx-set tale about a streetwise teen who discovers her true strength when her dream of becoming a dancer collides with harsh reality.
The drama, Dutch filmmaker de Jong’s follow-up to his 2015 feature debut Prince, screened at Tribeca Film Festival last month and hails from Twentieth Century Fox and Vice Films.
- 5/14/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Third Wife Film Movement Reviewed for Shockya.com & BigAppleReviews.net linked from Rotten Tomatoes by: Harvey Karten Director: Ash Mayfair Screenwriter: Ash Mayfair Cast: Nguyen Phuong Tra My, Tran Nu Yen Khe, Mai Thu Huong, Nguyen Nhu Quynh, Pham Thi Kim Ngan Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 4/5/19 Opens: May 15, 2019 at New York’s […]
The post The Third Wife Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The Third Wife Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 5/10/2019
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
For those that have gone through our massive summer preview, our monthly breakdowns may not bring a great deal of new surprises, but as we take a more granular look at the offerings, there’s certainly more to spotlight. Of course, much of the month will be dedicated to our Cannes coverage, but there’s also a wealth of excellent films coming to theaters and streaming, so check out our picks below.
Matinees to See: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (May 3), Long Shot (May 3), The Wandering Earth (May 5), The Silence of Others (May 8), Detective Pikachu (May 10), Charlie Says (May 10), Perfect (May 17), Photograph (May 17), Echo in the Canyon (May 24), Joy (May 24), The Perfection (May 24), The Fall of the American Empire (May 31), The Image You Missed (May 31), and Leto (May 31)
15. Knock Down the House (Rachel Lears; May 1)
Winner of the top festival favorite prize at Sundance Film Festival, Rachel Lears’ Knock Down the House...
Matinees to See: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (May 3), Long Shot (May 3), The Wandering Earth (May 5), The Silence of Others (May 8), Detective Pikachu (May 10), Charlie Says (May 10), Perfect (May 17), Photograph (May 17), Echo in the Canyon (May 24), Joy (May 24), The Perfection (May 24), The Fall of the American Empire (May 31), The Image You Missed (May 31), and Leto (May 31)
15. Knock Down the House (Rachel Lears; May 1)
Winner of the top festival favorite prize at Sundance Film Festival, Rachel Lears’ Knock Down the House...
- 5/1/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The summer movie season is upon us, which means a seemingly endless pile-up of superheroes, reboots, and sequels will crowd the multiplexes. While a very select few show some promise, we’ve set out to highlight a vast range of titles–40 in total–that will arrive over the next four months, many of which we’ve already given our stamp of approval.
There’s bound to be more late-summer announcements in the coming months, and a number of titles will arrive on VOD day-and-date, so follow us on Twitter for the latest updates. In the meantime, see our top 40 picks for what to watch this summer below, in chronological order, and let us know what you’re looking forward to most in the comments.
Knock Down the House (Rachel Lears; May 1)
Rachel Lears’ Knock Down the House is a fun, emotionally powerful, inspiring look at the incredible wave of would-be politicians that sought,...
There’s bound to be more late-summer announcements in the coming months, and a number of titles will arrive on VOD day-and-date, so follow us on Twitter for the latest updates. In the meantime, see our top 40 picks for what to watch this summer below, in chronological order, and let us know what you’re looking forward to most in the comments.
Knock Down the House (Rachel Lears; May 1)
Rachel Lears’ Knock Down the House is a fun, emotionally powerful, inspiring look at the incredible wave of would-be politicians that sought,...
- 4/24/2019
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
With the hundreds of films premiering at the Toronto International Film Film Festival, one that stood out as among the finest was Ash Mayfair’s The Third Wife. Picked up by Film Movement, the period drama will now get a release next month and a new trailer has arrived for the occasion. Set in 19th century Vietnam, it follows a teenager who is forced into an arranged marriage and discovers a path of forbidden love that will test her freedom.
Jared Mobarak said in our review, “First-time feature writer/director Ash Mayfair introduces us to this world with a series of luxurious set-ups of varying length, sans dialogue to truly allow the environment to overtake our senses. The Third Wife‘s visual poetry shifts through its minimalistic progressions with pertinent information positioned at the frame’s center: an egg yolk running down May’s chest to her belly button, Hung...
Jared Mobarak said in our review, “First-time feature writer/director Ash Mayfair introduces us to this world with a series of luxurious set-ups of varying length, sans dialogue to truly allow the environment to overtake our senses. The Third Wife‘s visual poetry shifts through its minimalistic progressions with pertinent information positioned at the frame’s center: an egg yolk running down May’s chest to her belly button, Hung...
- 4/21/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"You do it yourself first. You learn what your body likes." Film Movement has unveiled a new Us trailer for an indie drama from Vietnam titled The Third Wife, the feature directorial debut of promising filmmaker Ash Mayfair. This originally premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, and also played at the San Sebastián, Busan, Chicago, Warsaw, Denver, Cairo, Palm Springs Film Festivals. Set in 19th century rural Vietnam, the story follows a fourteen-year-old girl named May who is ready to become the third wife of a wealthy landowner. Little does she know that her hidden desires for another wife will take her by surprise and force her to make a choice between living in safety and being free. Starring Nguyen Phuong Tra My as May, with a cast including Nu Yên-Khê Tran, Long Le Vu, Lam Thanh My, Nguyen Thanh Tam, and Nhu Quynh Nguyen. Looks a like a very sensual,...
- 4/19/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Eureka Entertainment have announced that they will be releasing director Ash Mayfair’s acclaimed debut feature film “The Third Wife” in theatres and on-demand across the UK & Ireland from 31st May, 2019.
Ash Mayfair dug into her family history for “The Third Wife”, a coming-of-age story of love and self-discovery set in 19th century Vietnam, when women were rarely given a voice.
As the consequence of an arranged marriage, fourteen-year-old May becomes the third wife to a much older husband. She soon realises that she can gain status and security if she can birth a male child. However, the path of a pregnant May becomes fraught with danger when she starts to develop feelings for Xuan, the second wife. As forbidden love presents its tragedy and consequences, young May is forced to make a choice: to accept a life of silence and safety, or make her own way towards personal freedom.
Ash Mayfair dug into her family history for “The Third Wife”, a coming-of-age story of love and self-discovery set in 19th century Vietnam, when women were rarely given a voice.
As the consequence of an arranged marriage, fourteen-year-old May becomes the third wife to a much older husband. She soon realises that she can gain status and security if she can birth a male child. However, the path of a pregnant May becomes fraught with danger when she starts to develop feelings for Xuan, the second wife. As forbidden love presents its tragedy and consequences, young May is forced to make a choice: to accept a life of silence and safety, or make her own way towards personal freedom.
- 3/9/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Includes Saudi Arabia, which opened first cinemas in 35 years last year.
German sales outfit M-Appeal has closed a deal for 23 Arabic-speaking territories on its Efm title, The Third Wife, with regional distributor Mad Solutions.
The deal marks Mad’s first ever pick up of an Asian titles and includes Saudi Arabia, where the country’s first cinemas opened in spring 2018, following a 35-year ban on film-going.
Directed by Ash Mayfair, The Third Wife is a Vietnamese period drama about a teenage girl chosen to be the third wife of a wealthy landowner. She becomes pregnant with what she hopes will...
German sales outfit M-Appeal has closed a deal for 23 Arabic-speaking territories on its Efm title, The Third Wife, with regional distributor Mad Solutions.
The deal marks Mad’s first ever pick up of an Asian titles and includes Saudi Arabia, where the country’s first cinemas opened in spring 2018, following a 35-year ban on film-going.
Directed by Ash Mayfair, The Third Wife is a Vietnamese period drama about a teenage girl chosen to be the third wife of a wealthy landowner. She becomes pregnant with what she hopes will...
- 2/11/2019
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
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