Robbie Little, a familiar and well-loved figure at film markets who founded the Little Film Company with his wife Ellen, has died.
“Thank you, Sydney, for this loving tribute. You know, I remembered at some point that Robbie had called me around 1 am my time to say that he was up and getting ready to leave (and he sounded fine). So I realized he must have been awake and not asleep when he died so I e-mailed the police officer who found him and he confirmed to me that Robbie was on the floor and not in bed. It must have happened very fast because he didn’t have time to call for help. Love, Ellen”
Ellen Little became concerned when she had not heard from him four hours after he was to arrive in Cannes and called the hotel where he was staying in London. When they said he had checked out,...
“Thank you, Sydney, for this loving tribute. You know, I remembered at some point that Robbie had called me around 1 am my time to say that he was up and getting ready to leave (and he sounded fine). So I realized he must have been awake and not asleep when he died so I e-mailed the police officer who found him and he confirmed to me that Robbie was on the floor and not in bed. It must have happened very fast because he didn’t have time to call for help. Love, Ellen”
Ellen Little became concerned when she had not heard from him four hours after he was to arrive in Cannes and called the hotel where he was staying in London. When they said he had checked out,...
- 5/6/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Exclusive: Film Movement picks up Jonathan Pryce and Agyness Deyn feature.
Alex Helfrecht and Jörg Tittel’s dystopian drama The White King has been acquired for Us distribution by Film Movement.
Based on the novel by Gyorgy Dragoman, the film follows a young boy who overcomes growing up in a brutal dictatorship. Newcomer Lorenzo Allchurch stars alongside Jonathan Pryce and Agyness Deyn.
It premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2016, where it was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for best British feature, before going on to play Tallinn Black Nights.
Philip Munger and Teun Hilte produced with writer-director duo Helfrecht and Tittel.
Michael E. Rosenberg of Film Movement struck the deal with Robbie Little of The Little Film Company. The film will be released under Film Movement’s speciality label Omnibus Entertainment for festival and semi-theatrical booking, following by release on home video and digital platforms in the autumn.
“We are very...
Alex Helfrecht and Jörg Tittel’s dystopian drama The White King has been acquired for Us distribution by Film Movement.
Based on the novel by Gyorgy Dragoman, the film follows a young boy who overcomes growing up in a brutal dictatorship. Newcomer Lorenzo Allchurch stars alongside Jonathan Pryce and Agyness Deyn.
It premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2016, where it was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for best British feature, before going on to play Tallinn Black Nights.
Philip Munger and Teun Hilte produced with writer-director duo Helfrecht and Tittel.
Michael E. Rosenberg of Film Movement struck the deal with Robbie Little of The Little Film Company. The film will be released under Film Movement’s speciality label Omnibus Entertainment for festival and semi-theatrical booking, following by release on home video and digital platforms in the autumn.
“We are very...
- 5/12/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: The distributor has picked up North American rights to Kerstin Karlhuber’s Lgbt feature debut.
The drama premiered at The Human Rights Campaign in Washington D.C., and has played a number of festivals.
Tom Wopat, Michael Grant, Josh Green and Gregory Harrison star in Fair Haven, about a piano prodigy out of ex-gay conversion therapy pressured by his father to run the family farm.
Breaking Glass CEO Richard Wolff and Amanda Rae Simon negotiated the deal with producer Tom Malloy, the film’s international sales agent Robbie Little of The Little Film Company, and Robert L. Siegal.
“Spreading the message of acceptance and tolerance is our mission,” said Karlhuber. “If we can help young people gain confidence in their differences and maybe open a few closed minds we’ll have achieved our goal”, said director Kerstin Karlhuber.
“Breaking Glass was the perfect distributor for us because they understood the value of the film and were...
The drama premiered at The Human Rights Campaign in Washington D.C., and has played a number of festivals.
Tom Wopat, Michael Grant, Josh Green and Gregory Harrison star in Fair Haven, about a piano prodigy out of ex-gay conversion therapy pressured by his father to run the family farm.
Breaking Glass CEO Richard Wolff and Amanda Rae Simon negotiated the deal with producer Tom Malloy, the film’s international sales agent Robbie Little of The Little Film Company, and Robert L. Siegal.
“Spreading the message of acceptance and tolerance is our mission,” said Karlhuber. “If we can help young people gain confidence in their differences and maybe open a few closed minds we’ll have achieved our goal”, said director Kerstin Karlhuber.
“Breaking Glass was the perfect distributor for us because they understood the value of the film and were...
- 1/16/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Robbie Little has picked up worldwide sales rights to the dystopian drama by husband-and-wife team Alex Helfrecht and Jörg Tittel ahead of its international premiere at Tallinn Black Nights next month.
Agyness Deyn stars alongside Jonathan Pryce, Fiona Shaw, Greta Scacchi, Ross Partridge, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and feature debutant Lorenzo Allchurch.
Philip Munger and Teun Hilte produced The White King, which relocates the Romanian setting of György Dragomán’s award-winning novel to a totalitarian regime in a nameless locale, where a young boy sets out to find his imprisoned father.
The film will play in the First Features Competition at Tallinn Black Nights in Estonia, which runs from November 11-27. It received its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Robbie Little, co-president of The Little Film Company, said, “Alex and Jörg are tremendously impressive filmmakers who along with their producers, Philip Munger and Teun Hilte, have managed to put together an incredibly talented cast and...
Agyness Deyn stars alongside Jonathan Pryce, Fiona Shaw, Greta Scacchi, Ross Partridge, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and feature debutant Lorenzo Allchurch.
Philip Munger and Teun Hilte produced The White King, which relocates the Romanian setting of György Dragomán’s award-winning novel to a totalitarian regime in a nameless locale, where a young boy sets out to find his imprisoned father.
The film will play in the First Features Competition at Tallinn Black Nights in Estonia, which runs from November 11-27. It received its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Robbie Little, co-president of The Little Film Company, said, “Alex and Jörg are tremendously impressive filmmakers who along with their producers, Philip Munger and Teun Hilte, have managed to put together an incredibly talented cast and...
- 10/14/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: True-life drama stars Joanne Froggatt and Tom Riley.
Debbie Gray and Julian Gleek’s London-based Genesius Pictures has acquired UK distribution rights and international sales rights to Starfish, starring Joanne Froggatt [pictured] and Tom Riley.
The Little Film Company is in Cannes showing footage to the inspirational true-life story of a couple whose lives change forever when the man contracts a rare disease that leads to the loss of all four limbs and parts of his face.
Bill Clark wrote and directed and based his screenplay on interviews with the actual couple on whom the story is based.
Starfish is a Genesius Pictures presentation in association with Head Gear Films, Kreo Films and Unlimited Pictures of a Starfish Pictures Limited production with Origami Films Ltd, CrossDay and What’s The Story.
Pippa Cross, Mel Paton and Ros Hubbard produce and Gray is on board as executive producer with Robbie Little and Gleek, Diana Phillips, [link...
Debbie Gray and Julian Gleek’s London-based Genesius Pictures has acquired UK distribution rights and international sales rights to Starfish, starring Joanne Froggatt [pictured] and Tom Riley.
The Little Film Company is in Cannes showing footage to the inspirational true-life story of a couple whose lives change forever when the man contracts a rare disease that leads to the loss of all four limbs and parts of his face.
Bill Clark wrote and directed and based his screenplay on interviews with the actual couple on whom the story is based.
Starfish is a Genesius Pictures presentation in association with Head Gear Films, Kreo Films and Unlimited Pictures of a Starfish Pictures Limited production with Origami Films Ltd, CrossDay and What’s The Story.
Pippa Cross, Mel Paton and Ros Hubbard produce and Gray is on board as executive producer with Robbie Little and Gleek, Diana Phillips, [link...
- 5/18/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: True-life drama stars Joanne Froggatt and Tom Riley.
Debbie Gray and Julian Gleek’s London-based Genesius Pictures has acquired UK distribution rights and international sales rights to Starfish, starring Joanne Froggatt [pictured] and Tom Riley.
The Little Film Company is in Cannes showing footage to the inspirational true-life story of a couple whose lives change forever when the man contracts a rare disease that leads to the loss of all four limbs and parts of his face..
Bill Clark wrote and directed and based his screenplay on interviews with the actual couple on whom the story is based.
Starfish is a Genesius Pictures presentation in association with Unlimited Pictures of a Starfish Pictures Limited production with Origami Films Ltd, CrossDay and What’s the Story.
Pippa Cross, Mel Paton and Ros Hubbard produce and Gray is on board as executive producer with Robbie Little and Gleek, Diana Phillips, Claire Best and Peter Lang for Unlimited, Joanne Froggatt, Graeme...
Debbie Gray and Julian Gleek’s London-based Genesius Pictures has acquired UK distribution rights and international sales rights to Starfish, starring Joanne Froggatt [pictured] and Tom Riley.
The Little Film Company is in Cannes showing footage to the inspirational true-life story of a couple whose lives change forever when the man contracts a rare disease that leads to the loss of all four limbs and parts of his face..
Bill Clark wrote and directed and based his screenplay on interviews with the actual couple on whom the story is based.
Starfish is a Genesius Pictures presentation in association with Unlimited Pictures of a Starfish Pictures Limited production with Origami Films Ltd, CrossDay and What’s the Story.
Pippa Cross, Mel Paton and Ros Hubbard produce and Gray is on board as executive producer with Robbie Little and Gleek, Diana Phillips, Claire Best and Peter Lang for Unlimited, Joanne Froggatt, Graeme...
- 5/18/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Robbie Little has added worldwide rights on the coming-of-age tale from debutant Sean Nalaboff to his Cannes slate.
Hard Sell is styled as in the vein of Risky Business and centres on a poor high school senior at a wealthy school who comes up with a scheme to save the ailing family dog.
Skyler Gisondo, Kristin Chenoweth and Katrina Bowden star.
Jared Greenman and Jimmy Seargeant produced along with Nalaboff. eOne will release the film in select theatres and on demand in the Us on May 20.
“This is an impressive first feature from Nalaboff — you can’t help but fall in love with the characters Skyler Gisondo and Katrina Bowden portray, and be taken back to the many heart-breaking and character-building firsts of those important teen years,” said Little.
Hard Sell is styled as in the vein of Risky Business and centres on a poor high school senior at a wealthy school who comes up with a scheme to save the ailing family dog.
Skyler Gisondo, Kristin Chenoweth and Katrina Bowden star.
Jared Greenman and Jimmy Seargeant produced along with Nalaboff. eOne will release the film in select theatres and on demand in the Us on May 20.
“This is an impressive first feature from Nalaboff — you can’t help but fall in love with the characters Skyler Gisondo and Katrina Bowden portray, and be taken back to the many heart-breaking and character-building firsts of those important teen years,” said Little.
- 5/11/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Robbie Little has acquired worldwide sales rights to Kerstin Karlhuber’s directorial debut drama ahead of the market in Santa Monica next month.
Fair Haven will receive its market premiere screening on November 7 and centres on the trials of a young piano prodigy who returns to his homestead after gay conversion therapy.
Michael Grant and Josh Green star alongside Tom Wopat, Gregory Harrison and Lily Anne Harrison.
Jack Bryant wrote the screenplay and Tom Malloy produces.
“I’m delighted to be working with Kerstin and Tom, bringing their beautifully crafted film about love and acceptance to the Afm,” said Little.
Fair Haven will receive its market premiere screening on November 7 and centres on the trials of a young piano prodigy who returns to his homestead after gay conversion therapy.
Michael Grant and Josh Green star alongside Tom Wopat, Gregory Harrison and Lily Anne Harrison.
Jack Bryant wrote the screenplay and Tom Malloy produces.
“I’m delighted to be working with Kerstin and Tom, bringing their beautifully crafted film about love and acceptance to the Afm,” said Little.
- 10/21/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Robbie Little has acquired worldwide sales rights to Kerstin Karlhuber’s directorial debut drama ahead of the market in Santa Monica next month.
Fair Haven will receive its market premiere screening on November 7 and centres on the trials of a young piano prodigy who returns to his homestead after gay conversion therapy.
Michael Grant and Josh Green star alongside Tom Wopat, Gregory Harrison and Lily Anne Harrison.
Jack Bryant wrote the screenplay and Tom Malloy produces.
“I’m delighted to be working with Kerstin and Tom, bringing their beautifully crafted film about love and acceptance to the Afm,” said Little.
Fair Haven will receive its market premiere screening on November 7 and centres on the trials of a young piano prodigy who returns to his homestead after gay conversion therapy.
Michael Grant and Josh Green star alongside Tom Wopat, Gregory Harrison and Lily Anne Harrison.
Jack Bryant wrote the screenplay and Tom Malloy produces.
“I’m delighted to be working with Kerstin and Tom, bringing their beautifully crafted film about love and acceptance to the Afm,” said Little.
- 10/21/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
As previously reported exclusively on Screendaily, the Gfm Films partner has been voted in for his third term as chairman of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (Ifta).
The membership meeting took place simultaneously at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City and via telephone to the British Screen Advisory Council in London.
Ryan, a fierce opponent of the European Commission’s proposal for a Digital Single Market, replaces outgoing Paul Hertzberg and served two terms as Ifta chairman from 2003-07.
Joining him on the executive committee will be Myriad president and CEO Kirk D’Amico, who was re-elected as general vice-chairperson, Vision Films MD and CEO Lise Romanoff, who was re-elected vice-chairperson/secretary, and Mongrel International president Charlotte Mickie, who was elected vice-chairperson/Non-Californian.
Voltage Pictures CEO Nicolas Chartier, Arclight svp of sales and acquisitions Clay Epstein and The Exchange CEO Brian O’Shea continue in the second year of their terms on the executive committee.
The following...
The membership meeting took place simultaneously at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City and via telephone to the British Screen Advisory Council in London.
Ryan, a fierce opponent of the European Commission’s proposal for a Digital Single Market, replaces outgoing Paul Hertzberg and served two terms as Ifta chairman from 2003-07.
Joining him on the executive committee will be Myriad president and CEO Kirk D’Amico, who was re-elected as general vice-chairperson, Vision Films MD and CEO Lise Romanoff, who was re-elected vice-chairperson/secretary, and Mongrel International president Charlotte Mickie, who was elected vice-chairperson/Non-Californian.
Voltage Pictures CEO Nicolas Chartier, Arclight svp of sales and acquisitions Clay Epstein and The Exchange CEO Brian O’Shea continue in the second year of their terms on the executive committee.
The following...
- 9/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The New York-based distribution outfit plans to release the film theatrically in Q1, 2016.
Abramorama has picked up Us distrbution rights to the newly-filmed stage version version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, starring Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything) and directed by Margaret Williams.
Abramorama acquired from The Little Film Company, who picked up worldwide sales rights out of this year’s Cannes Marche.
The production was filmed at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and also stars John Shrapnel, Barbara Marten, Gillian Bevan, Katie West and Thomas Arnold. Sarah Frankcom, artistic director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed the stage play.
Picturehouse Entertainment opened Hamlet in the UK in March on more than 300 screens.
The film is executive produced for Genesius Pictures by Julian Gleek, Quidem Productions by Ralph Bernard and Simon Cooper, Royal Exchange Theatre by Fiona Gasper, and produced by Anne Beresford and Debbie Gray.
Richard Abramowitz, president of Abramorama, negotiated the deal...
Abramorama has picked up Us distrbution rights to the newly-filmed stage version version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, starring Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything) and directed by Margaret Williams.
Abramorama acquired from The Little Film Company, who picked up worldwide sales rights out of this year’s Cannes Marche.
The production was filmed at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and also stars John Shrapnel, Barbara Marten, Gillian Bevan, Katie West and Thomas Arnold. Sarah Frankcom, artistic director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed the stage play.
Picturehouse Entertainment opened Hamlet in the UK in March on more than 300 screens.
The film is executive produced for Genesius Pictures by Julian Gleek, Quidem Productions by Ralph Bernard and Simon Cooper, Royal Exchange Theatre by Fiona Gasper, and produced by Anne Beresford and Debbie Gray.
Richard Abramowitz, president of Abramorama, negotiated the deal...
- 9/11/2015
- ScreenDaily
Voice cast of Raymond Briggs’ adaptation also includes Luke Treadaway and Virginia McKenna.
Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn are to voice the lead characters of Ethel & Ernest, a new hand-drawn animated feature based on Raymond Briggs’ classic graphic novel and tribute to his parents.
Production is underway on the film, set for theatrical release in 2016, and the cast also includes Luke Treadaway as Raymond, Olivier award winner for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and star of Fortitude; Virginia McKenna (Born Free, A Town Like Alice), June Brown (EastEnders), Pam Ferris (Matilda), Simon Day and Roger Allam.
The film will also showcase the voice of 11-year-old Harry Collett as young Raymond, who provides the voice of Buzzbee in Disney Junior’s animated series The Hive.
Ethel & Ernest marks the feature debut of Roger Mainwood, who worked as an animator on Briggs’ classic short The Snowman and was lead animator on the 2012 sequel, [link...
Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn are to voice the lead characters of Ethel & Ernest, a new hand-drawn animated feature based on Raymond Briggs’ classic graphic novel and tribute to his parents.
Production is underway on the film, set for theatrical release in 2016, and the cast also includes Luke Treadaway as Raymond, Olivier award winner for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and star of Fortitude; Virginia McKenna (Born Free, A Town Like Alice), June Brown (EastEnders), Pam Ferris (Matilda), Simon Day and Roger Allam.
The film will also showcase the voice of 11-year-old Harry Collett as young Raymond, who provides the voice of Buzzbee in Disney Junior’s animated series The Hive.
Ethel & Ernest marks the feature debut of Roger Mainwood, who worked as an animator on Briggs’ classic short The Snowman and was lead animator on the 2012 sequel, [link...
- 8/3/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Bill Lee’s ambitious distributor has bulked up its supply line, striking deals with Archstone, CineTel Films, Hollywood Media Bridge and The Little Film Company.
The non-exclusive corporate ties include exclusive rights to several initial titles that include: Archstone horror La Slasher and family film A Horse Story; and sci-fi and action disaster titles Lavalantua, Icetastrophe, Stormageddon, and Earthtastrophe from Paul Hertzberg’s CineTel Films.
Rounding out the early roster are Hollywood Media Bridge’s Nocturna, Killing Salazar and Isolation; and horror titles Dark Awakening and Scar Tissue from Robbie Little’s The Little Film Company.
Alchemy will provide tailored release strategies across its network of diverse distribution platforms. Releases will be in the Us and in some cases Canada. It is understood the company will not commit P&A funds to the releases.
Alchemy vp of acquisitions Steve Break negotiated all deals on behalf of the company.
“At Alchemy we pride ourselves on delivering content from high...
The non-exclusive corporate ties include exclusive rights to several initial titles that include: Archstone horror La Slasher and family film A Horse Story; and sci-fi and action disaster titles Lavalantua, Icetastrophe, Stormageddon, and Earthtastrophe from Paul Hertzberg’s CineTel Films.
Rounding out the early roster are Hollywood Media Bridge’s Nocturna, Killing Salazar and Isolation; and horror titles Dark Awakening and Scar Tissue from Robbie Little’s The Little Film Company.
Alchemy will provide tailored release strategies across its network of diverse distribution platforms. Releases will be in the Us and in some cases Canada. It is understood the company will not commit P&A funds to the releases.
Alchemy vp of acquisitions Steve Break negotiated all deals on behalf of the company.
“At Alchemy we pride ourselves on delivering content from high...
- 7/23/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Arc Entertainment has acquired all Us rights to Chapman Filmed Entertainment’s thriller The Barber, which The Little Film Company is selling internationally.
Scott Glenn stars in the story of a father and son obsessed with a monstrous man who has devastated their lives.
Arc has earmarked a spring 2015 theatrical and premium VOD release for The Barber.
Chapman alumnus Basel Owies directed the film from a screenplay by Max Enscoe. Chris Coy, Stephen Tobolowsky, Olivia Taylor Dudley and Kristen Hager round out the key cast.
Chapman Filmed Entertainment’s Travis Knox produced The Barber and Bob Yari and William Immerman serve as executive producers.
The film is the first to originate from Chapman Filmed Entertainment, the production company run through Chapman University’s Dodge College Of Film And Media Arts.
“The Arc team has a keen understanding of the target audiences who will love this film and are astute at reaching them in unique ways resulting in great...
Scott Glenn stars in the story of a father and son obsessed with a monstrous man who has devastated their lives.
Arc has earmarked a spring 2015 theatrical and premium VOD release for The Barber.
Chapman alumnus Basel Owies directed the film from a screenplay by Max Enscoe. Chris Coy, Stephen Tobolowsky, Olivia Taylor Dudley and Kristen Hager round out the key cast.
Chapman Filmed Entertainment’s Travis Knox produced The Barber and Bob Yari and William Immerman serve as executive producers.
The film is the first to originate from Chapman Filmed Entertainment, the production company run through Chapman University’s Dodge College Of Film And Media Arts.
“The Arc team has a keen understanding of the target audiences who will love this film and are astute at reaching them in unique ways resulting in great...
- 11/8/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Arc Entertainment has picked up all U.S. rights to The Barber, a character-driven thriller from director Basel Owies starring Scott Glenn and Chris Coy. The deal, negotiated by Arc Entertainment's Scott Moesta and Robbie Little of The Little Film Company, who is handling worldwide sales on the title, was said to be in the mid-six figure range. Arc is planning both a theatrical and VOD bow for The Barber and eyeing a spring 2015 release. The plot of the film has Glenn as a suspect in a serial-murder case who is released due to insufficient evidence,
read more...
read more...
- 11/8/2014
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Robbie Little’s The Little Film Company swings into the Afm looking to find a Us buyer and close outstanding territories on UK art house smash Northern Soul.
Elaine Constantine directed the story about the 1970s Us music craze that swept large parts of northern England.
The film has grossed more than £400,000 since opening in theatres on October 17 through Universal Pictures sub-licensee Monroe.
In its first seven days Northern Soul grossed an average of £908 per show from no more than 80 cinemas.
According to Little and other participants on the film, the figure ranks ahead of comparable grosses for Gone Girl and The Judge.
The film opened across digital platforms on October 20 and remains in theatres.
“We’ve had people dancing in the aisles and people queuing up round the block,” said Constantine, currently in the Us doing a project for the New York Times.
The Little Film Company got involved at script stage and also served...
Elaine Constantine directed the story about the 1970s Us music craze that swept large parts of northern England.
The film has grossed more than £400,000 since opening in theatres on October 17 through Universal Pictures sub-licensee Monroe.
In its first seven days Northern Soul grossed an average of £908 per show from no more than 80 cinemas.
According to Little and other participants on the film, the figure ranks ahead of comparable grosses for Gone Girl and The Judge.
The film opened across digital platforms on October 20 and remains in theatres.
“We’ve had people dancing in the aisles and people queuing up round the block,” said Constantine, currently in the Us doing a project for the New York Times.
The Little Film Company got involved at script stage and also served...
- 10/30/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Independent Film & Television Alliance membership held their annual elections on September 24 for the executive committee and board of directors.
Ifta chairperson Paul Hertzberg of CineTel Films will head the executive committee. The committee members for 2014-16 are: general vice-chairperson Nicolas Chartier of Voltage Pictures (pictured); chairperson of export alliance Clay Epstein of Arclight Films; vice-chairperson/finance Brian O’Shea of The Exchange; and general vice-chairperson/non-Californian Michael Ryan of Gfm Films.
Continuing on the executive committee for the second year of their terms are: general vice-chairperson Kirk D’Amico of Myriad Pictures and vice-chairperson/secretary Lise Romanoff of Vision Films.
The following have been elected to the board for the 2014-2016 term: Tamara Birkemoe of Foresight Unlimited; Camela Galano of Relativity International;
Gene George of Starz Media; Jay Joyce of Artist View Entertainment; Lloyd Kaufman of Troma; Brad Krevoy of Motion Picture Corporation Of America; Robbie Little of The Little Film Company; Nicole Mackey of Fortissimo Film Sales...
Ifta chairperson Paul Hertzberg of CineTel Films will head the executive committee. The committee members for 2014-16 are: general vice-chairperson Nicolas Chartier of Voltage Pictures (pictured); chairperson of export alliance Clay Epstein of Arclight Films; vice-chairperson/finance Brian O’Shea of The Exchange; and general vice-chairperson/non-Californian Michael Ryan of Gfm Films.
Continuing on the executive committee for the second year of their terms are: general vice-chairperson Kirk D’Amico of Myriad Pictures and vice-chairperson/secretary Lise Romanoff of Vision Films.
The following have been elected to the board for the 2014-2016 term: Tamara Birkemoe of Foresight Unlimited; Camela Galano of Relativity International;
Gene George of Starz Media; Jay Joyce of Artist View Entertainment; Lloyd Kaufman of Troma; Brad Krevoy of Motion Picture Corporation Of America; Robbie Little of The Little Film Company; Nicole Mackey of Fortissimo Film Sales...
- 9/24/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Phil Avalon, playwright?
Yes, the producer-writer-director-actor wrote his first and only play, The Backstreet General, after graduating from drama school in the 1970s.
The Vietnam-set play was staged at six venues and gave Avalon the idea for a film which he now aims to shoot next year. He.s updated the setting to the current day so he can introduce the theme of terrorism.
The plot follows a young guy named Lenny who is captured by terrorists in Bali, where he learns of a plot to assassinate the Us Vice-President during an upcoming visit to Australia. The protagonist escapes and tries to intervene to thwart the assassination attempt.
Avalon will produce and direct and has co-written the script with Gold Coast-based writer Greg Clayton, with development assistance from Screen Queensland. He is confident of funding the $5 million budget from private investors and the producer offset.
.I had Ffc approval...
Yes, the producer-writer-director-actor wrote his first and only play, The Backstreet General, after graduating from drama school in the 1970s.
The Vietnam-set play was staged at six venues and gave Avalon the idea for a film which he now aims to shoot next year. He.s updated the setting to the current day so he can introduce the theme of terrorism.
The plot follows a young guy named Lenny who is captured by terrorists in Bali, where he learns of a plot to assassinate the Us Vice-President during an upcoming visit to Australia. The protagonist escapes and tries to intervene to thwart the assassination attempt.
Avalon will produce and direct and has co-written the script with Gold Coast-based writer Greg Clayton, with development assistance from Screen Queensland. He is confident of funding the $5 million budget from private investors and the producer offset.
.I had Ffc approval...
- 9/2/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Roster includes Tell Me The Truth About Love [pictured] and The More You Ignore Me.
Producer Debbie Gray and real estate developer Julian Gleek have announce the initial slate on their fledgling Genesius Pictures Limited.
Robbie Little of The Little Film Company will handle sales on a number of the titles and has begun conversations with buyers here.
The roster includes Tell Me The Truth About Love, the story of composer Benjamin Britten’s affair with Peter Pears. Gray is producing with Anne Beresford and Margaret Williams will direct James Northcote and James Norton.
The More You Ignore Me comes from comedienne Jo Brand, who wrote and will star, while Reg Traviss will direct The Ladykiller from Martina Cole’s adaptation of the novel of the same name. Cole and Chris Whiteside produce.
Flush is a co-production with Robbie Little and Ellen Little of The Little Film Company adapted from the Virginia Woolf novel about Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning...
Producer Debbie Gray and real estate developer Julian Gleek have announce the initial slate on their fledgling Genesius Pictures Limited.
Robbie Little of The Little Film Company will handle sales on a number of the titles and has begun conversations with buyers here.
The roster includes Tell Me The Truth About Love, the story of composer Benjamin Britten’s affair with Peter Pears. Gray is producing with Anne Beresford and Margaret Williams will direct James Northcote and James Norton.
The More You Ignore Me comes from comedienne Jo Brand, who wrote and will star, while Reg Traviss will direct The Ladykiller from Martina Cole’s adaptation of the novel of the same name. Cole and Chris Whiteside produce.
Flush is a co-production with Robbie Little and Ellen Little of The Little Film Company adapted from the Virginia Woolf novel about Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning...
- 5/20/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Though the market seemed slow on the surface, the usual sales got made: the larger companies selling almost out, the smaller ones busily speaking with others, selling here and there, worrying if this would get better, worse, or stay the same.
Meanwhile fascinating and energizing conversations were carried on with friends, newcomers, keepers of funds, representatives of countries and their needs to internationalize, to join forces with one another to create new models, internationalize, form cross cultural competent and cooperative ways of working together. We know the past model is failing to keep up with the technology and its fast spawning product. Some would say the old model is old and frail, sucking its old teeth as it pretends to carry on, but in reality, it is carrying its own corpse upon its shoulders. I would never go so far as to say this; the model will be changed, refined and redesigned, but it will survive because some people enjoy theatrical settings and that helps further other sales
FBI Casting Director Beatrice Kruger (now working on Fatih Akin¹s The Cut) spoke to us over dinner at Einsteins about her experience on Woody Allen¹s To Rome With Love, how he got involved in the real life politics of Italy as he attempted to cast real newscasters in the roles they play in real life. He didn't want the right wingers. He didn't like them, but he was told he had to hire them if he wanted to access the government monies, ...besides, how could he cast a left wing newscaster into the role off a right wing commentator? The experience of Italian politics did not make him happy.
Frank Cox, the founder of the Australian arthouse distributor Hopscotch which has been sold to eOne Entertainment, was in the Scandinavian Pavilion and told me he is still carrying on though on a smaller scale with his original company, New Vision Distribution. He recently acquired We¹re The Best by Lucas Moodyson, a darling film that showed in Cannes and Toronto and totally endeared me to its 13 year old girls as they searched for ways to get into trouble. (Magnolia has U.S.)
Robbie Little and Elie Mechoulam, Director of Sales and Marketing of The Little Film Company tallying up that $30,000,000 at the box office at $11 per ticket is only 3 million admissions, or 300,000 tickets sold...TV would be failure if it had such numbers. TV makes $46 million in ad sales on one episode of a great series...
Andrea Kaul, the EFM¹s new Co-Director who comes from Rtl TV and ad sales was not at that conversation, but when we spoke after the market was finished, such a topic as episodic content and online ad sales was also on her mind. The Berlinale screening of Netflix¹s second installment of Houses of Cards was a great success in the last days of the Berlinale, which was in itself food for thought. Even Dieter Kosslick, in his interview with Indiewire¹s Eric Kohn (Read Here) said, "We showed, for the first time in history, House of Cards. We have never done such a thing before. Heads were turning last night. Last year, we had [Jane Campion¹s TV series] Top of the Lake (in its entirety),so we are starting this new whole world."
Ted Hope of Fandor pointed out, "Research company Markets and Markets predicts global video-on-demand (VOD) revenue will grow from $21 billion last year to $45 billion in 2018. They define this as the combined revenues of all VOD outlets, worldwide ‹ essentially digital (online) VOD plus cable & satellite VOD. Huge numbers, but actually not a particularly high compound annual growth rate (16%) to get to the $45b number in years. Figure roughly half of this revenue flows to content owners and half to the VOD outlets."
To see the excitement of young people just beginning...everything to gain and little to lose, learning to like what they are doing to further their aims at telling stories their way. When I spoke with Wafa Tajdin, a founding partner and lead producer at Seven Thirty Films, an Africa based indie production company she runs with her sister, artist and film maker Amirah Tajdin. This Arab Indian pair of sisters is working to tell their stories of growing up in Kenya and living in Dubai...I asked which parent was what and was told that each parent was also half Arab, half Indian, the same sexes too...I should have told them about Peter, whose Italian Jewish parents also lived in such a ghetto of mixed marriages in east Harlem in the 1910s and 1920s. These are the stories which are forming in world cinema today. You can see her work Here
True cross-culture creation is taking place in the Talents section of the Efm. Eleven films of former Talent Campus participants are showing in the festival this year
One talent, Sompot Chidgasornpongse has formed a new international sales agency (and distribution company) called Mosquito. Thailand¹s leading independent filmmakers Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives), Pimpaka Towira (One Night Husband), Aditya Assarat (Hi-So), Soros Sukhum (Wonderful Town), Anocha Suwichakornpong (Mundane History), and Lee Chatametikool have joined hands to open Mosquito Films Distribution. The new company will handle international sales and festival distribution for the partners¹ films as well as upcoming titles from the new generation of Southeast Asian filmmakers. - See more Here
Ben Gibson of London Film School,Ira Deutchman of Colombia Film School, German film school dffb, Frances La Femis, Fescac the Romanian Film and Theater University are continuing their initiative Making Waves, bringing in students to work collaboratively to develop creative campaigns, edit trailers, design posters and plan roll-out packages for actual independent movies in the Efm.
Also exciting was the search for new models, not only in the film world of funding by government organizations, but of society as discussed in such films as Göran Hugo Olsson¹s (Black Mix Tapes) Concerning Violence and Hubert Sauper¹s We Come as Friends , and of women in society. 50% of public funds should be made available for women who not only constitute 50% of the public as moviegoers and should represent 50% of the cinephiles (those working in the film business) but 50% of all societies and therefore should have 50% of the voice of public policy.
In its second year, the Dortmund Women's Film Festival drew even more women to hear and discuss the status of women in the film business and gender parity. Speakers such as Heike Meyer-Döring of the Creative Europe Desk of Film and Medienstiftung Nrw, Bosnian filmmaker and Golden Bear Winner in 2006 Jasmila Zbanic, So-in Hong of the Seoul International Womens Film Festival speaking on aims and projects of the Asian Women Film Network, Melissa Silverstein of the Athena Film Festival and blogger on Women and Hollywood updating on the status of women filmmakers in the U.S., Mariel Macia of Mica/ Cima, Spain speaking of the proposal for the EU Commission regarding gender equality on state aid for film - all these and more, like Claudia Landsberger head of Eye International, Film Institute Netherlands hosting a panel of Susana de la Sierra, General Director of Icaa, Spanish Film Institute noting that 7% of the leading roles were women and the 2007 Law for Gender Equality, Cornelia Hammelmann, Project Director of the German Federal Fund, Sanja Ravlic, President of the Gender Equality Study Group of Eurimages, Croatia -- all spoke of what seems as obvious as the noses on our faces, but which has made little impact on the reality of policies yet... We had so many more conversations, I wish I could put them all here.
With all the ideas circulating, one could hardly say that the Berlinale and the European Film Market were not busy.
Meanwhile fascinating and energizing conversations were carried on with friends, newcomers, keepers of funds, representatives of countries and their needs to internationalize, to join forces with one another to create new models, internationalize, form cross cultural competent and cooperative ways of working together. We know the past model is failing to keep up with the technology and its fast spawning product. Some would say the old model is old and frail, sucking its old teeth as it pretends to carry on, but in reality, it is carrying its own corpse upon its shoulders. I would never go so far as to say this; the model will be changed, refined and redesigned, but it will survive because some people enjoy theatrical settings and that helps further other sales
FBI Casting Director Beatrice Kruger (now working on Fatih Akin¹s The Cut) spoke to us over dinner at Einsteins about her experience on Woody Allen¹s To Rome With Love, how he got involved in the real life politics of Italy as he attempted to cast real newscasters in the roles they play in real life. He didn't want the right wingers. He didn't like them, but he was told he had to hire them if he wanted to access the government monies, ...besides, how could he cast a left wing newscaster into the role off a right wing commentator? The experience of Italian politics did not make him happy.
Frank Cox, the founder of the Australian arthouse distributor Hopscotch which has been sold to eOne Entertainment, was in the Scandinavian Pavilion and told me he is still carrying on though on a smaller scale with his original company, New Vision Distribution. He recently acquired We¹re The Best by Lucas Moodyson, a darling film that showed in Cannes and Toronto and totally endeared me to its 13 year old girls as they searched for ways to get into trouble. (Magnolia has U.S.)
Robbie Little and Elie Mechoulam, Director of Sales and Marketing of The Little Film Company tallying up that $30,000,000 at the box office at $11 per ticket is only 3 million admissions, or 300,000 tickets sold...TV would be failure if it had such numbers. TV makes $46 million in ad sales on one episode of a great series...
Andrea Kaul, the EFM¹s new Co-Director who comes from Rtl TV and ad sales was not at that conversation, but when we spoke after the market was finished, such a topic as episodic content and online ad sales was also on her mind. The Berlinale screening of Netflix¹s second installment of Houses of Cards was a great success in the last days of the Berlinale, which was in itself food for thought. Even Dieter Kosslick, in his interview with Indiewire¹s Eric Kohn (Read Here) said, "We showed, for the first time in history, House of Cards. We have never done such a thing before. Heads were turning last night. Last year, we had [Jane Campion¹s TV series] Top of the Lake (in its entirety),so we are starting this new whole world."
Ted Hope of Fandor pointed out, "Research company Markets and Markets predicts global video-on-demand (VOD) revenue will grow from $21 billion last year to $45 billion in 2018. They define this as the combined revenues of all VOD outlets, worldwide ‹ essentially digital (online) VOD plus cable & satellite VOD. Huge numbers, but actually not a particularly high compound annual growth rate (16%) to get to the $45b number in years. Figure roughly half of this revenue flows to content owners and half to the VOD outlets."
To see the excitement of young people just beginning...everything to gain and little to lose, learning to like what they are doing to further their aims at telling stories their way. When I spoke with Wafa Tajdin, a founding partner and lead producer at Seven Thirty Films, an Africa based indie production company she runs with her sister, artist and film maker Amirah Tajdin. This Arab Indian pair of sisters is working to tell their stories of growing up in Kenya and living in Dubai...I asked which parent was what and was told that each parent was also half Arab, half Indian, the same sexes too...I should have told them about Peter, whose Italian Jewish parents also lived in such a ghetto of mixed marriages in east Harlem in the 1910s and 1920s. These are the stories which are forming in world cinema today. You can see her work Here
True cross-culture creation is taking place in the Talents section of the Efm. Eleven films of former Talent Campus participants are showing in the festival this year
One talent, Sompot Chidgasornpongse has formed a new international sales agency (and distribution company) called Mosquito. Thailand¹s leading independent filmmakers Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives), Pimpaka Towira (One Night Husband), Aditya Assarat (Hi-So), Soros Sukhum (Wonderful Town), Anocha Suwichakornpong (Mundane History), and Lee Chatametikool have joined hands to open Mosquito Films Distribution. The new company will handle international sales and festival distribution for the partners¹ films as well as upcoming titles from the new generation of Southeast Asian filmmakers. - See more Here
Ben Gibson of London Film School,Ira Deutchman of Colombia Film School, German film school dffb, Frances La Femis, Fescac the Romanian Film and Theater University are continuing their initiative Making Waves, bringing in students to work collaboratively to develop creative campaigns, edit trailers, design posters and plan roll-out packages for actual independent movies in the Efm.
Also exciting was the search for new models, not only in the film world of funding by government organizations, but of society as discussed in such films as Göran Hugo Olsson¹s (Black Mix Tapes) Concerning Violence and Hubert Sauper¹s We Come as Friends , and of women in society. 50% of public funds should be made available for women who not only constitute 50% of the public as moviegoers and should represent 50% of the cinephiles (those working in the film business) but 50% of all societies and therefore should have 50% of the voice of public policy.
In its second year, the Dortmund Women's Film Festival drew even more women to hear and discuss the status of women in the film business and gender parity. Speakers such as Heike Meyer-Döring of the Creative Europe Desk of Film and Medienstiftung Nrw, Bosnian filmmaker and Golden Bear Winner in 2006 Jasmila Zbanic, So-in Hong of the Seoul International Womens Film Festival speaking on aims and projects of the Asian Women Film Network, Melissa Silverstein of the Athena Film Festival and blogger on Women and Hollywood updating on the status of women filmmakers in the U.S., Mariel Macia of Mica/ Cima, Spain speaking of the proposal for the EU Commission regarding gender equality on state aid for film - all these and more, like Claudia Landsberger head of Eye International, Film Institute Netherlands hosting a panel of Susana de la Sierra, General Director of Icaa, Spanish Film Institute noting that 7% of the leading roles were women and the 2007 Law for Gender Equality, Cornelia Hammelmann, Project Director of the German Federal Fund, Sanja Ravlic, President of the Gender Equality Study Group of Eurimages, Croatia -- all spoke of what seems as obvious as the noses on our faces, but which has made little impact on the reality of policies yet... We had so many more conversations, I wish I could put them all here.
With all the ideas circulating, one could hardly say that the Berlinale and the European Film Market were not busy.
- 2/27/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Little Film Company is to give a market premiere to Miriam Kruishoop’s Greencard Warriors at the American Film Market (Afm).
A hard-hitting drama about Latino immigrants and gang members in Los Angeles without legal papers, Greencard Warriors recently won a Best Director award at the 16th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. The film stars Manny Perez and Vivica A. Fox.
The film’s associate producer, former PolyGram and Icon exec Stewart Till, put Dutch director Kruishoop in touch with Robbie Little earlier this summer.
The film was partly inspired by an article on non-us citizens serving in the Us army in a bid to build a brighter future for their families. The film follows Angel, an undocumented 14 year-old Latino boy struggling to stay out of trouble after his father joins the military.
Greencard Warriors was made with support from an unlikely quarter - the La-set movie received backing from the Netherlands Film Fund.
“We...
A hard-hitting drama about Latino immigrants and gang members in Los Angeles without legal papers, Greencard Warriors recently won a Best Director award at the 16th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. The film stars Manny Perez and Vivica A. Fox.
The film’s associate producer, former PolyGram and Icon exec Stewart Till, put Dutch director Kruishoop in touch with Robbie Little earlier this summer.
The film was partly inspired by an article on non-us citizens serving in the Us army in a bid to build a brighter future for their families. The film follows Angel, an undocumented 14 year-old Latino boy struggling to stay out of trouble after his father joins the military.
Greencard Warriors was made with support from an unlikely quarter - the La-set movie received backing from the Netherlands Film Fund.
“We...
- 10/31/2013
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
A young filmmaker living in the Philippines has won the inaugural picSeeder competition. Avid Liongoren's pitch, Saving Sally, was voted the winner by five of the six international judges.
The intention of the contest launched in February by filmmaker Bill Bennett and his wife, producer Jennifer Cluff, was to reward a short film by an aspiring filmmaker. Only after the judges had viewed the short-listed entries and chosen Saving Sally did they discover it.s a feature-length film, a highly original, three-way love story involving a boy, a girl, and a monster.
The prize: post production house Spectrum will fund the completion of the film, including the compositing and marketing materials. French-based international sales agent Wild Bunch aims to launch the title at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Bennett describes Saving Sally as a .gentle, witty and charming film,. which combines live action and animation. He showed a rough cut to Spectrum.s head Josh Pomeranz,...
The intention of the contest launched in February by filmmaker Bill Bennett and his wife, producer Jennifer Cluff, was to reward a short film by an aspiring filmmaker. Only after the judges had viewed the short-listed entries and chosen Saving Sally did they discover it.s a feature-length film, a highly original, three-way love story involving a boy, a girl, and a monster.
The prize: post production house Spectrum will fund the completion of the film, including the compositing and marketing materials. French-based international sales agent Wild Bunch aims to launch the title at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Bennett describes Saving Sally as a .gentle, witty and charming film,. which combines live action and animation. He showed a rough cut to Spectrum.s head Josh Pomeranz,...
- 10/17/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Ifta has elected its new executive committee and board of directors.
Ifta chairperson Paul Hertzberg will lead the 2013-14 executive committee and is joined by general vice-chairperson Kirk D’Amico and vice-chairperson/secretary Lise Romanoff.
Continuing on the executive committee for the second year of their two-year terms are: Clay Epstein, chairperson, Ifta Export Alliance; Nicolas Chartier, vice-chairperson; Brian O’Shea vice-chairperson/finance; and Michael Ryan, vice-chairperson.
Elected to this year’s board are: Glen Basner, Shaked Berenson, Roger Corman, Pierre David, Ennis Hensley, Andrew Kramer, Albert Lee, Avi Lerner, Charlotte Mickie and Thorsten Schumacher. Mathilde Epstein, Camela Galano and Brad Krevoy serve as alternates.
Continuing in the second year of their two-year board terms are: David Garrett, Gene George, Tatyana Joffe, Jay Joyce, Robbie Little, Nicole Mackey, Barbara Mudge, Almira Ravil, Mimi Steinbauer and Lisa Wilson.
Ifta chairperson Paul Hertzberg will lead the 2013-14 executive committee and is joined by general vice-chairperson Kirk D’Amico and vice-chairperson/secretary Lise Romanoff.
Continuing on the executive committee for the second year of their two-year terms are: Clay Epstein, chairperson, Ifta Export Alliance; Nicolas Chartier, vice-chairperson; Brian O’Shea vice-chairperson/finance; and Michael Ryan, vice-chairperson.
Elected to this year’s board are: Glen Basner, Shaked Berenson, Roger Corman, Pierre David, Ennis Hensley, Andrew Kramer, Albert Lee, Avi Lerner, Charlotte Mickie and Thorsten Schumacher. Mathilde Epstein, Camela Galano and Brad Krevoy serve as alternates.
Continuing in the second year of their two-year board terms are: David Garrett, Gene George, Tatyana Joffe, Jay Joyce, Robbie Little, Nicole Mackey, Barbara Mudge, Almira Ravil, Mimi Steinbauer and Lisa Wilson.
- 9/27/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Main Street Films has bought North American rights to John Doe, an Australian thriller about an anti-hero who attempts to rid the community of criminals while taking out those he knows are about to commit crimes.
The director is Kel Dolen (Reign in Darkness, Gates of Hell), the screenplay is by Steve Coates and the cast is headed by Battlestar Galactica.s Jamie Bamber and Lachy Hulme (Howzat! Kerry Packer's War, Beaconsfield).
The film was produced by ScreenCorp..s James M. Vernon and Kristy Vernon with Keith Sweitzer and David Lightfoot. Leanne Walker is the executive producer.
Main Street Films chairman Craig Chang along with Harrison Kordestani saw John Doe at the Cannes Film Market and negotiated the deal with Vernon. .We used our two screenings at Cannes to create a profile for the film and it turned out better than expected,. Vernon told If.
The Us company is releasing Mike Newell.s Great Expectations,...
The director is Kel Dolen (Reign in Darkness, Gates of Hell), the screenplay is by Steve Coates and the cast is headed by Battlestar Galactica.s Jamie Bamber and Lachy Hulme (Howzat! Kerry Packer's War, Beaconsfield).
The film was produced by ScreenCorp..s James M. Vernon and Kristy Vernon with Keith Sweitzer and David Lightfoot. Leanne Walker is the executive producer.
Main Street Films chairman Craig Chang along with Harrison Kordestani saw John Doe at the Cannes Film Market and negotiated the deal with Vernon. .We used our two screenings at Cannes to create a profile for the film and it turned out better than expected,. Vernon told If.
The Us company is releasing Mike Newell.s Great Expectations,...
- 7/29/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The picSeeder concept seemed easy to grasp: a global, online pitching competition designed to enable aspiring filmmakers to fund short films.
Alas, the execution proved challenging and the number of entries received by the June 30 deadline- 32- is way below the volume expected by the organisers, filmmaker Bill Bennett and his wife, producer Jennifer Cluff.
Contestants were invited to submit a 1-minute pitch video. Members of the site (www.picseeder.com) get to vote on their favourite pitch until July 8. Those who send in the 12 most popular pitches will be asked to provide a 3-minute video.
The winner will be determined by an international jury comprising Us sales agent Robbie Little, French financier/producer Jean-Charles Levy, Stephen Gates, New York-based head of the literary department at talent management company Evolution Entertainment, actress Michelle Ang and Indian producer Udayan Baijal.
At the outset the organisers said the cash prize, funded from the $28 entry fee,...
Alas, the execution proved challenging and the number of entries received by the June 30 deadline- 32- is way below the volume expected by the organisers, filmmaker Bill Bennett and his wife, producer Jennifer Cluff.
Contestants were invited to submit a 1-minute pitch video. Members of the site (www.picseeder.com) get to vote on their favourite pitch until July 8. Those who send in the 12 most popular pitches will be asked to provide a 3-minute video.
The winner will be determined by an international jury comprising Us sales agent Robbie Little, French financier/producer Jean-Charles Levy, Stephen Gates, New York-based head of the literary department at talent management company Evolution Entertainment, actress Michelle Ang and Indian producer Udayan Baijal.
At the outset the organisers said the cash prize, funded from the $28 entry fee,...
- 7/2/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The Australian organisers of picSeeder, the inaugural global, online pitching competition designed to enable aspiring filmmakers to fund short films, have extended the deadline for entries to June 30.
The brainchild of filmmaker Bill Bennett and his wife, producer Jennifer Cluff, the competition invites contestants to submit a one-minute pitch video.
Members of the site (www.picseeder.com), which is free, get to vote on their favourite pitch. Those who submit the 12 most popular pitches will be asked to provide a three-minute video.
The winner will be determined by an international jury comprising Us sales agent Robbie Little, French financier/producer Jean-Charles Levy, Stephen Gates, New York-based head of the literary department at talent management company Evolution Entertainment, actress Michelle Ang and Indian producer Udayan Baijal.
The cash prize, funded from the $28 entry fee, is up to $50,000.
Bennett told If the take-up was slower than he expected and he hopes extending...
The brainchild of filmmaker Bill Bennett and his wife, producer Jennifer Cluff, the competition invites contestants to submit a one-minute pitch video.
Members of the site (www.picseeder.com), which is free, get to vote on their favourite pitch. Those who submit the 12 most popular pitches will be asked to provide a three-minute video.
The winner will be determined by an international jury comprising Us sales agent Robbie Little, French financier/producer Jean-Charles Levy, Stephen Gates, New York-based head of the literary department at talent management company Evolution Entertainment, actress Michelle Ang and Indian producer Udayan Baijal.
The cash prize, funded from the $28 entry fee, is up to $50,000.
Bennett told If the take-up was slower than he expected and he hopes extending...
- 6/6/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Australian filmmaker Bill Bennett has launched an online short film competition offering up to $50,000 prize money.
picSeeder has attracted a respected international panel of judges comprised of French financier and producer Jean Charles Levy, Us sales agent Robbie Little, Us manager Stephen Gates, Indian producer/assistant director Udayan Baijal, and actor Michelle Ang.
Public funding for short films has fallen in recent years as the focus has shifted to supporting features, TV, and digital media although crowdfunding and lower digital production costs has helped offset the decline.
Bennett said he hopes the picSeeder competition will present an alternative source of financing, "particularly for young filmmakers so they don't have to go cap in hand to the funding bodies."
In December, 2012, Screen Australia said it had spent its entire $42 million drama production budget in just six months although earlier this month it announced $40,000 in support of short musical comedy Emo (The...
picSeeder has attracted a respected international panel of judges comprised of French financier and producer Jean Charles Levy, Us sales agent Robbie Little, Us manager Stephen Gates, Indian producer/assistant director Udayan Baijal, and actor Michelle Ang.
Public funding for short films has fallen in recent years as the focus has shifted to supporting features, TV, and digital media although crowdfunding and lower digital production costs has helped offset the decline.
Bennett said he hopes the picSeeder competition will present an alternative source of financing, "particularly for young filmmakers so they don't have to go cap in hand to the funding bodies."
In December, 2012, Screen Australia said it had spent its entire $42 million drama production budget in just six months although earlier this month it announced $40,000 in support of short musical comedy Emo (The...
- 2/7/2013
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Days of Mary casts Juliette Lewis in remaining of Federic Fellini's Nights of Cabiria The film which is based on the original script by Ennio Flaino, Tullio Pinelli and Fellini, follows a girl who's seeking a romantic interest to escape her life in Reno, Neva and starts principal photography in Reno some time this fall, reports Variety. Constellation Entertainment picked up rights to the 1957 winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar winner from the Fellini estate. Brad Michael Gilbert is set to helm from the script her wrote with Meg McGarry while Mike S. Ryan produces alongside Gilbert. Robbie Little's Little Film Co., is handling international sales for The Days of Mary, introducing the film to buyers in Cannes at first.
- 5/8/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Days of Mary casts Juliette Lewis in remaining of Federic Fellini's Nights of Cabiria The film which is based on the original script by Ennio Flaino, Tullio Pinelli and Fellini, follows a girl who's seeking a romantic interest to escape her life in Reno, Neva and starts principal photography in Reno some time this fall, reports Variety. Constellation Entertainment picked up rights to the 1957 winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar winner from the Fellini estate. Brad Michael Gilbert is set to helm from the script her wrote with Meg McGarry while Mike S. Ryan produces alongside Gilbert. Robbie Little's Little Film Co., is handling international sales for The Days of Mary, introducing the film to buyers in Cannes at first.
- 5/8/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The production team are hoping to get Australian status, and therefore the producer offset for the qualifying Australian expenditure, on director Bill Bennett's Defiant, which has Toni Collette and Dev Patel attached and is scheduled to start filming in India in October.
The thriller is one of a number of high-profile Australian films in planning that are being presented at the Cannes Film Festival next month by sales agents; in this case, The Little Film Company.
All the filming will happen in India with as many Australian heads of department as possible, and all the post in Australia.
Sydney-based Anupam Sharma, who is producing with Bennett, isn.t discussing financing sources in detail but said the budget will be in excess of $6 million and no Indian production partner is in place as yet.
Bennett has written the thriller, which was sparked by an article he saw in an Indian newspaper about five years ago.
The thriller is one of a number of high-profile Australian films in planning that are being presented at the Cannes Film Festival next month by sales agents; in this case, The Little Film Company.
All the filming will happen in India with as many Australian heads of department as possible, and all the post in Australia.
Sydney-based Anupam Sharma, who is producing with Bennett, isn.t discussing financing sources in detail but said the budget will be in excess of $6 million and no Indian production partner is in place as yet.
Bennett has written the thriller, which was sparked by an article he saw in an Indian newspaper about five years ago.
- 4/27/2012
- by Sandy George
- IF.com.au
Anupam Sharma
Bill Bennett
A new Australian film set in India has cast Aussie actress Toni Collette and Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel.
Defiant is written and directed by Kiss or Kill’s Bill Bennett and produced by Bennett and Anupam Sharma.
The Australian-based Sharma told Encore that the production is aiming to have a global perspective and operate despite the lack of a co-production treaty between Australia and India.
However, this suits Sharma’s plan: “I’ve always propagated that we should use the Australian producer offset, and use private Indian finance.”
“At the end of the day, these stories work because they’ve got something to tell, not a doctored story to make a co-production. You have to find the right team. When I look at the team, I’ve constantly screamed we need a global perspective.”
The film is based on a newspaper article Bennett read about...
Bill Bennett
A new Australian film set in India has cast Aussie actress Toni Collette and Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel.
Defiant is written and directed by Kiss or Kill’s Bill Bennett and produced by Bennett and Anupam Sharma.
The Australian-based Sharma told Encore that the production is aiming to have a global perspective and operate despite the lack of a co-production treaty between Australia and India.
However, this suits Sharma’s plan: “I’ve always propagated that we should use the Australian producer offset, and use private Indian finance.”
“At the end of the day, these stories work because they’ve got something to tell, not a doctored story to make a co-production. You have to find the right team. When I look at the team, I’ve constantly screamed we need a global perspective.”
The film is based on a newspaper article Bennett read about...
- 4/24/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Sycamore Entertainment Group Inc. is pleased to announce it has acquired Us rights to the Fred Schepisi film The Eye Of The Storm, starring Academy Award-winner® Geoffrey Rush (“The Kings’ Speech,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”), Charlotte Rampling (“The Swimming Pool,” “Melancholia”) and Golden Globe® nominee Judy Davis (“Barton Fink” & Woody Allen’s upcoming “Nero Fiddled“). The Eye Of The Storm screened at the 36th Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2011.
The screen play adaptation by Judy Morris is based on the 1973 literary classic by Australia’s only Nobel Prize-winner for Literature, Patrick White. The Eye Of The Storm is a savage exploration of the family relationships . and the sharp undercurrents of love and hate, comedy and tragedy . which define them.
CEO Edward Sylvan with the help of the hard working team at Sycamore, started the company to maximize the potential for hybrid Print & Advertising (P&A) and full service distribution deals,...
The screen play adaptation by Judy Morris is based on the 1973 literary classic by Australia’s only Nobel Prize-winner for Literature, Patrick White. The Eye Of The Storm is a savage exploration of the family relationships . and the sharp undercurrents of love and hate, comedy and tragedy . which define them.
CEO Edward Sylvan with the help of the hard working team at Sycamore, started the company to maximize the potential for hybrid Print & Advertising (P&A) and full service distribution deals,...
- 1/17/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
While co-hosting (with festival head Rachel Belofsky and Jonna Jackson) last week’s Screamfest La mixer at Te’Kila and 504 on Hollywood Boulevard (in attendance were horror movers and shakers John Skipp, F. Javier Gutiérrez, Stephen Goldmann, John Michael Elfers, Drina Durazo and more), I caught up with Re-Animator filmmaker Stuart Gordon in order to discuss his current projects as well as the currently previewing play Re-Animator – The Musical.
Opening on March 5th at the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood, CA, the stage musical incarnation of Gordon’s 1985 filmic hit (both of which center around Dr. Herbert West, a medical student obsessed with reanimating the dead) runs Friday through Saturday nights through March 27, and Gordon told us of the play over a cocktail amid the boisterous din, “Audiences seem to really like it, which is great! We’re previewing all weekend, and those nights are already sold out, which is a wonderful thing.
Opening on March 5th at the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood, CA, the stage musical incarnation of Gordon’s 1985 filmic hit (both of which center around Dr. Herbert West, a medical student obsessed with reanimating the dead) runs Friday through Saturday nights through March 27, and Gordon told us of the play over a cocktail amid the boisterous din, “Audiences seem to really like it, which is great! We’re previewing all weekend, and those nights are already sold out, which is a wonderful thing.
- 3/1/2011
- by SeanD.
- DreadCentral.com
The folks wheeling and dealing at the 2011 Efm couldn't care less that it's the weekend as evidenced by the news that director Stuart Gordon and his Re-Animator producer Brian Yuzna are in pre-production on The Men.
Per Screen Daily The Men is the story of a woman who discovers that earth is captive to an alien race that took control of the planet half a million years ago. The late Dan O’Bannon, whose credits include Total Recall, wrote the screenplay. The Little Film Company co-president Robbie Little serves as executive producer on the project, which is out to casting.
“We have admired Brian and Stuart’s films for years and are very happy to be making this project with them now,” Little said. “It’s especially thrilling to be working on a project written by the great Dan O’Bannon.
Keep it here for more on The Men as it comes.
Per Screen Daily The Men is the story of a woman who discovers that earth is captive to an alien race that took control of the planet half a million years ago. The late Dan O’Bannon, whose credits include Total Recall, wrote the screenplay. The Little Film Company co-president Robbie Little serves as executive producer on the project, which is out to casting.
“We have admired Brian and Stuart’s films for years and are very happy to be making this project with them now,” Little said. “It’s especially thrilling to be working on a project written by the great Dan O’Bannon.
Keep it here for more on The Men as it comes.
- 2/12/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
The re-invention of Comin' At Ya! in Noir 3D has been a long research and development process; but all our efforts and tremendous financial investment have finally paid off.
The following press release confirms the International Premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
To all our friends and subscribers in Germany: There are still tickets available if you RSVP at contact@bigtimetoday.com
If you attend the premiere let us know the reaction.
The Little Film Company tapped as the exclusive sales agent for the fully digitized and re-invented 3D cult classic film,
Comin’ At Ya! Noir 3D
Los Angeles (February 2, 2011)--Robbie Little, Co-President of The Little Film Company, today announced that the company will be handling world-wide sales rights for the fully digitized 3D cult-classic Comin’ At Ya! Noir 3D, which will also have its premiere at Efm in Berlin.
The...
The re-invention of Comin' At Ya! in Noir 3D has been a long research and development process; but all our efforts and tremendous financial investment have finally paid off.
The following press release confirms the International Premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
To all our friends and subscribers in Germany: There are still tickets available if you RSVP at contact@bigtimetoday.com
If you attend the premiere let us know the reaction.
The Little Film Company tapped as the exclusive sales agent for the fully digitized and re-invented 3D cult classic film,
Comin’ At Ya! Noir 3D
Los Angeles (February 2, 2011)--Robbie Little, Co-President of The Little Film Company, today announced that the company will be handling world-wide sales rights for the fully digitized 3D cult-classic Comin’ At Ya! Noir 3D, which will also have its premiere at Efm in Berlin.
The...
- 2/10/2011
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
The Afm is springing all sorts of filmic surprises this year – none more surprising that Fangoria – yes the same Fangoria that was rumoured to be teetering on the edge of bankruptcy after failing to pay its writers – is looking to move back into feature film production. From the press release:
Accelerator is partnering with Fangoria Entertainment’s Gravesend Film Enterprises to produce a slate of films.
The first will be a remake of Bob Clark’s 1973 zombie flick, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things. Production is set to begin spring 2011. The second will be “Cleopatra Brimstone,” about a graduate student who turns murderous. Based on the novel Elizabeth Hand, the film will start shooting in summer 2011.
The deal was brokered Robbie Little, co-president of Accelerator, and Gravesend heads Thomas DeFeo and Steven Mackler. All three will executive produce. Accelerator’s parent co., The Little Film Company, will handle worldwide sales.
Accelerator is partnering with Fangoria Entertainment’s Gravesend Film Enterprises to produce a slate of films.
The first will be a remake of Bob Clark’s 1973 zombie flick, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things. Production is set to begin spring 2011. The second will be “Cleopatra Brimstone,” about a graduate student who turns murderous. Based on the novel Elizabeth Hand, the film will start shooting in summer 2011.
The deal was brokered Robbie Little, co-president of Accelerator, and Gravesend heads Thomas DeFeo and Steven Mackler. All three will executive produce. Accelerator’s parent co., The Little Film Company, will handle worldwide sales.
- 11/4/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Even Fangoria has news coming out of Afm further cementing the fact that horror is not only alive, it's twitching, crawling off the slab, and looking for fresh meat. Or in this case not so fresh meat. That's right kids, another remake is on its way, this time of a personal favorite of mine - the Bob Clarke classic, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. But wait ... there's more!
From the Press Release
Accelerator is partnering with Fangoria Entertainment's Gravesend Film Enterprises to produce a slate of films.
The first will be a remake of Bob Clark's 1973 zombie flick, "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things." Production is set to begin spring 2011. The second will be "Cleopatra Brimstone," about a graduate student who turns murderous. Based on the novel Elizabeth Hand, the film will start shooting in summer 2011.
The deal was brokered Robbie Little, co-president of Accelerator, and Gravesend heads Thomas DeFeo and Steven Mackler.
From the Press Release
Accelerator is partnering with Fangoria Entertainment's Gravesend Film Enterprises to produce a slate of films.
The first will be a remake of Bob Clark's 1973 zombie flick, "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things." Production is set to begin spring 2011. The second will be "Cleopatra Brimstone," about a graduate student who turns murderous. Based on the novel Elizabeth Hand, the film will start shooting in summer 2011.
The deal was brokered Robbie Little, co-president of Accelerator, and Gravesend heads Thomas DeFeo and Steven Mackler.
- 11/4/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
The Independent quotes Rupert Grint in saying how delighted he is about the fan campaign for Cherrybomb and that he backs it wholeheartedly! “I’m delighted by the huge support the film has already received on the official Facebook page and other sites on the web and am so grateful to my fans in particular, who have travelled the world to support the film at festivals and preview screenings.” In even bigger, exciting news, The Independent states the campaign has helped secure a distribution deal in Britain and details will be announced next week. We will be looking more into this to let you know all the details! Robbie Little, of The Little Film Company, has also been quoted as saying that the campaign has definitely helped. And Lisa Barros D'Sa, the co-director, has been quoted as saying how blown away they are by the support from the minute Rupert was cast in the film!
- 10/4/2009
- by Tao
- Rupert-Grint.us/
Cologne, Germany -- Sony Pictures Classics has grabbed North and Latin American rights to Michael Hoffmann's historical drama "The Last Station," starring Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, James McAvoy and Paul Giamatti from Robbie Little's The Little Film Company.
The drama, based on the 1990 novel by Jay Parini, premiered at Teluride and is the story of a young intellectual (McAvoy) who visits the aging Russian author Leo Tolstoy (Plummer) only to become entangled in a battle over his literary legacy. Mirren stars as Tolstoy's conniving wife, Countess Sofya. Ann-Marie Duff also stars, playing Tolstoy's youngest daughter Sasha.
"The Last Station" was produced by Germany's Egoli Tossell Film Halle in co-production with SamFilm and Russia's Andrei Konchalovsky Production Center. Jens Meurer, Chris Curling and Bonnie Arnold produced with Andrei Konchalovsky acting as executive producer.
In a separate domestic deal, Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to German Film Award winner "John Rabe,...
The drama, based on the 1990 novel by Jay Parini, premiered at Teluride and is the story of a young intellectual (McAvoy) who visits the aging Russian author Leo Tolstoy (Plummer) only to become entangled in a battle over his literary legacy. Mirren stars as Tolstoy's conniving wife, Countess Sofya. Ann-Marie Duff also stars, playing Tolstoy's youngest daughter Sasha.
"The Last Station" was produced by Germany's Egoli Tossell Film Halle in co-production with SamFilm and Russia's Andrei Konchalovsky Production Center. Jens Meurer, Chris Curling and Bonnie Arnold produced with Andrei Konchalovsky acting as executive producer.
In a separate domestic deal, Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to German Film Award winner "John Rabe,...
- 10/2/2009
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
I've been waiting for this movie since last year and even did a post in anticipation. I'd love to see James McAvoy back doing period movies and The Last Station is apparently a great acting vehicle for someone as talented as McAvoy - and the cast is also superb!
- - -
- - - Based on the book by Jay Parini, The Last Station looks at the last days of Russia's greatest author, Count Leo Tolstoy. Considered an icon by all Russians, Tolstoy is the author of such acclaimed novels as 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'. Wanting to spend his dying days in peace and quiet, Tolstoy fled from his home and away from the spotlight. He died nine days later in the house of the station master at Astapovo. Directed by Michael Hoffman, the cast include James McAvoy as Valentin Bulgakov, Christopher Plummer as Count Leo Tolstoy,...
- - -
- - - Based on the book by Jay Parini, The Last Station looks at the last days of Russia's greatest author, Count Leo Tolstoy. Considered an icon by all Russians, Tolstoy is the author of such acclaimed novels as 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'. Wanting to spend his dying days in peace and quiet, Tolstoy fled from his home and away from the spotlight. He died nine days later in the house of the station master at Astapovo. Directed by Michael Hoffman, the cast include James McAvoy as Valentin Bulgakov, Christopher Plummer as Count Leo Tolstoy,...
- 9/8/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
I've been waiting for this movie since last year and even did a post in anticipation. I'd love to see James McAvoy back doing period movies and The Last Station is apparently a great acting vehicle for someone as talented as McAvoy - and the cast is also superb!
- - -
- - - Based on the book by Jay Parini, The Last Station looks at the last days of Russia's greatest author, Count Leo Tolstoy. Considered an icon by all Russians, Tolstoy is the author of such acclaimed novels as 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'. Wanting to spend his dying days in peace and quiet, Tolstoy fled from his home and away from the spotlight. He died nine days later in the house of the station master at Astapovo. Directed by Michael Hoffman, the cast include James McAvoy as Valentin Bulgakov, Christopher Plummer as Count Leo Tolstoy,...
- - -
- - - Based on the book by Jay Parini, The Last Station looks at the last days of Russia's greatest author, Count Leo Tolstoy. Considered an icon by all Russians, Tolstoy is the author of such acclaimed novels as 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'. Wanting to spend his dying days in peace and quiet, Tolstoy fled from his home and away from the spotlight. He died nine days later in the house of the station master at Astapovo. Directed by Michael Hoffman, the cast include James McAvoy as Valentin Bulgakov, Christopher Plummer as Count Leo Tolstoy,...
- 9/8/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
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